Simple Predicate - A Complete Guide

What is a simple predicate? A simple predicate in English grammar is the main verb or verb phrase (main verb + any auxiliary verb) in a sentence that tells what the subject does or what the subject is as "slept" and "runs" in "John slept." and "John runs."

Thus a simple predicate is the core or main part of the predicate, excluding all other the modifiers (words adding to the meaning of predicate) or objects that may come along with it.

Why do you need to learn simple predicates? It's because you must be aware of sentence structures and capable of using them efficiently to better your writing, spoken and comprehension skills in English.

A sentence in the English language has the following two basic parts: 

• Subject: it can be simple, complete and compound.
• Predicate: it can be simple, complete and compound.

As our spoken and written sentences contain simple, compound and complete subject and predicate, we need to familiarize ourselves with them and be able to use them effectively.

Also read: Subject and Its Types

So far, you've certainly understood the importance of the simple predicate which is crucial for mastering sentence structure and improving writing, speaking and comprehension skills in English.

Let's dive into the definition, components and examples of simple predicate!

Simple Predicate - Definition and Meaning

What is a simple predicate? A simple predicate is the main verb or verb phrase in the predicate part of a sentence, excluding all the other modifiers or objects that are there in the predicate part. Like other types of predicate such as complete and compound predicates, simple predicates tell us what the subject does or what it is about. In simple language, we can define the simple predicate as the main verb or verb phrase. 

For example:

•  John sleeps.

The simple predicate in the above-mentioned sentence is "sleeps" which is just a main verb and which tells us what the subject is doing: sleeping.

 

Simple Predicate in Points

1. A simple predicate is just the main verb or verb phrase. 

2. A simple predicate tells us what the subject does or is.

3. A simple predicate doesn't have other modifiers or objects.

4. A simple predicate must contain in all types of predicates. 

Components of a Simple Predicate

As has been mentioned that the simple predicate is just the main verb or verb phrase, a simple predicate consists of:

1. Main Verb: The simple predicate must include the main verb, which is a single word. 

In the below-given examples, the main verbs "runs," "walks," and "go" are simple predicates.

For example:

• He runs.
• John walks.
• We go. 

2. Auxiliary Verbs: The simple predicate can consist of helping verbs such as "has," "have," "will," "is," "are" as parts of the main verb, which will be a verb phrase. 

In the following examples, the verbs such as "is," "will be," and "was" are auxiliary verbs used as parts of the main verbs such as "sleeping," "going," and "running." All parts included are simple predicates. 

For example:

• John is sleeping.
• He will be going.
• I was running. 

 

Note: A verb phrase contains a main or head verb and other elements such as modifiers before and after it. 

Read in details: Verb Phrase 

Examples of Simple Predicates

1. Sofia runs every morning.

2. They are singing loudly.

3. John has finished his homework. 

In the sentence "Sofia runs every morning," the simple predicate is "runs."

In "They are singing loudly," the simple predicate is "are singing."

In "John has finished his homework," the simple predicate is "has finished."

How Do You Identify the Simple Predicate?

Identifying a simple predicate is very simple. All you need to do is just to find the main verb or verb phrase in the sentence. To identify the simple predicate in a sentence, follow the below-given steps:

1. Look for the subject and predicate parts in the sentence.

2. Locate the main verb or verb phrase that expresses the action or state of being. 

3. Separate it from any modifiers, objects, or complements that may form part of the complete predicate. 

For instance:

• The quick red fox jumps over the lazy dog.
• The students are studying for their exams.

Here, in the sentence "The quick red fox jumps over the lay dog.", the main verb "jumps" is the simple predicate. Similarly, in the sentence "The students are studying for their exams." the verb phrase "are studying" is the simple predicate. 

Comparing Simple, Complete and Compound Predicates

1. Differences Between Simple and Complete Predicates

A complete predicate includes the verb and all the words that describe the verb and complete its meaning, whereas a simple predicate is just the main verb or the verb phrase. So, a complete predicate consists of:

1. Objects: Objects such as direct and indirect objects can be part of complete predicate.

For example:

• He kicked the ball. (ball = direct object)
• John gave me two dollars. (me = indirect object)

2. Modifiers: Modifiers such as adjectives can be part of complete predicates.

For example:

• John is intelligent. (intelligent = adjective)
• Smith looked handsome. (handsome = adjective)

3. Prepositional Phrases: Prepositional phrases ( preposition + its object) can be part of complete predicates.

For example:

• The birds are sitting on the tree. (on the tree = prepositional phrase)
• The cat is under the table. (under the table = prepositional phrase)

Note that the highlighted simple verbs and verb phrases words in the above-mentioned examples are simple predicates, whereas all the verbs and verb phrases including all other words such as objects, modifiers and prepositional phrases are called complete predicates. 

2. Difference Between Simple and Compound Predicates

A simple predicate, as has been mentioned, is simply the main verb or verb phrase, whereas a compound predicate has two or more verbs which share the same subject. 

For example:

• John writes poems and sings songs.
• Sofia both speaks and writes English well.

In the above-given sentences, "John writes poems and sings songs." and "Sofia both speaks and writes English well.", the main verbs "writes" and "sings" and "speaks" and "writes" are the compound predicates shared by the same subject "John" and "Sofia"

3. Difference Between Compound and Complete Predicates

A compound predicate is a type of predicate which has two or more predicates shared by the same subject, whereas a complete predicate is a type of predicate which has a main verb preceded and followed by modifiers and/or objects. 

Examples of Compound Predicates 

1. John both reads and writes newspaper. 

2. Smith was and is a good singer. 

3. The girl went to the playground and played there.

Examples of Complete Predicates 

1. I and my wife had a great time on the beach.

2. John earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Harvard University.

3. He asked a lot of questions about the meeting. 

Why Care About Simple Predicate?

As you may have noticed that simple predicates must contain in a sentence; that is, be it a compound or complete predicate, the simple predicate is necessarily there in the sentence. Understanding simple predicates is essential for the following reasons:

1. Clarity: Identifying the simple predicate helps in understanding the main action taking place or the state of the subject being talked about in the sentence. In simple words, identifying simple predicates means identifying the main action or the state of the subject.

2. Grammar Accuracy: Learning simple predicates helps you in ensuring subject-verb agreement, which is fundamental to grammatical correctness and accuracy; that is, you can apply subject-verb agreement only after learning the simple predicate in the sentence.

3. Writing Improvement: Recognizing the simple predicate helps you construct clear and concise sentences which improves your overall writing quality. Clear and concise sentences are essential for understanding the message that lies within your sentences.

Simple Predicate Exercises

To master identifying simple predicates, practice with various sentences. Here are a few exercises:

Q1. Identify the simple predicates in the following sentences:

1. The children play in the park.

2. The dog is barking loudly.

3. She has traveled to many countries.

Q2. Create sentences and underline the simple predicates:

1. The teacher explains the lesson well.

2. They will arrive at noon.

3. The book has been read by many.

Summary: Simple Predicate

The simple predicate is a fundamental component of English grammar, forming the core of the sentence's predicate. By focusing on the main verb or verb phrase, one can easily identify the simple predicates used in the sentence. 

Learning simple predicates improves both written and spoken communication. Regular practice in identifying and using simple predicates can significantly enhance grammatical skills and clarity in communication.

FAQs - What is a Simple Predicate 

What is a simple predicate? 

What is a simple predicate? A simple predicate in English grammar is the main verb or verb phrase (main verb + any auxiliary verb) in a sentence that tells what the subject does or what the subject is as in "John slept." and "John is a singer."

What is an example of a simple predicate?

Examples of simple predicates include:

1. He runs.

2. Sofia sleeps.

3. She came.

4. They went.

5. You walk.

Simple predicate definition 

Simple predicate is defined as the type of predicate which has just the main verb or the verb phrase, excluding all other modifiers, objects or phrases in the predicate part.