[Image: Subject and Predicate — sentence split into subject (blue) and predicate (green) parts with examples]
Learning Objectives
- Understand that every sentence has two parts -- a subject and a predicate.
- Identify the subject (naming part) in a sentence.
- Identify the predicate (telling part) in a sentence.
- Write complete sentences and mark both parts correctly.
Let Us Begin!
Read this sentence: "The tall boy runs very fast."
Can you tell who the sentence is about? It is about the tall boy. This is called the subject.
Now, what does the tall boy do? He runs very fast. This is called the predicate.
Every complete sentence must have both a subject and a predicate. Without either part, the sentence is incomplete.
What Is a Subject?
The subject is the naming part of a sentence. It tells us who or what the sentence is about.
The subject can be a single word or a group of words.
Examples -- Finding the Subject
Rani plays the sitar. (Who plays? Rani.)
The old banyan tree gives us shade. (What gives shade? The old banyan tree.)
My grandmother tells wonderful stories. (Who tells stories? My grandmother.)
The Ganga flows through many states. (What flows? The Ganga.)
Think about it: To find the subject, ask "Who?" or "What?" before the verb. The answer is the subject.
What Is a Predicate?
The predicate is the telling part of a sentence. It tells us what the subject does, what the subject is, or what happens to the subject.
The predicate always contains the verb and everything that follows it.
Examples -- Finding the Predicate
Rani plays the sitar. (What does Rani do? Plays the sitar.)
The old banyan tree gives us shade. (What does it do? Gives us shade.)
My grandmother tells wonderful stories. (What does she do? Tells wonderful stories.)
The Ganga flows through many states. (What does it do? Flows through many states.)
Think about it: Once you find the subject, everything else in the sentence is the predicate.
Subject and Predicate Together
| Sentence | Subject (Naming Part) | Predicate (Telling Part) |
|---|
| The children played in the park. | The children | played in the park |
| Our teacher speaks softly. | Our teacher | speaks softly |
| The peacock danced in the rain. | The peacock | danced in the rain |
| Amit and Priya are best friends. | Amit and Priya | are best friends |
| The train from Delhi arrived late. | The train from Delhi | arrived late |
| A group of monkeys sat on the wall. | A group of monkeys | sat on the wall |
Key Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|
| Subject | The naming part of a sentence; tells who or what the sentence is about. |
| Predicate | The telling part of a sentence; tells what the subject does or is. |
| Verb | An action word; the predicate always contains a verb. |
| Complete Sentence | A sentence that has both a subject and a predicate. |
Key Points to Remember
- Every sentence has two parts: a subject and a predicate.
- The subject is the naming part -- it tells WHO or WHAT the sentence is about.
- The predicate is the telling part -- it tells what the subject does or is.
- To find the subject, ask "Who?" or "What?" before the verb.
- The predicate always contains the verb (action word).
- A sentence without a subject or predicate is incomplete.
Practice Questions
A. Underline the Subject in Each Sentence
1. The farmer ploughed the field.
2. My little sister loves mangoes.
3. The Taj Mahal stands in Agra.
4. A flock of birds flew over the lake.
5. Rohan and Sneha went to the library.
B. Underline the Predicate in Each Sentence
1. The postman delivered a letter.
2. Our school starts at eight o'clock.
3. The river flows quietly through the village.
4. Grandmother made delicious ladoos.
5. The big elephant drank water from the pond.
C. Separate the Subject and Predicate
1. The mango tree gives sweet fruits.
Subject: Predicate:
2. All the students stood in a line.
Subject: Predicate:
3. The Red Fort is in Delhi.
Subject: Predicate:
4. My father reads the newspaper every morning.
Subject: Predicate:
5. The little puppy chased its tail.
Subject: Predicate:
D. Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the subject in: "The clever fox tricked the crow"?
(a) tricked the crow(b) The clever fox(c) the crow
2. The predicate of a sentence always contains a:
(a) noun(b) adjective(c) verb
3. Which part tells WHAT the subject does?
(a) Subject(b) Predicate(c) Both
4. What is the predicate in: "Anita sings classical music"?
(a) Anita(b) sings classical music(c) classical music
E. Add a Subject or Predicate to Complete the Sentence
1. is the capital of India.
2. The naughty monkey .
3. cooked rice and dal for dinner.
4. The bright stars .
5. won the cricket match.
Fun Activity -- Build a Sentence
Match a subject from Column A with a predicate from Column B to make complete sentences. Write the full sentences on the lines below.
| Column A (Subject) | Column B (Predicate) |
|---|
| The kind doctor | shines brightly in the sky. |
| My pet parrot | helped the sick child. |
| The sun | runs through the forest. |
| A wild deer | talks in a funny voice. |
Now write two sentences of your own. Draw a line ( | ) between the subject and predicate.