Subjects and Predicates

The predicate of a sentence tells something about the subject. It tells what the subject does, did, is doing, or will be doing.

Examples:

  • The two friends cut the banana plant into two.

What did the two friends do with the banana plant?

  • The monkey got the top part of the plant.

What did the monkey do?

  • The banana plant started to grow.

What happened to the banana plant?

The answers to the questions above are the predicates of the sentences.

Cut the banana plant into two, got the top part of the plant, and started to grow tell us something about the subject.

The subject and predicate in sentences may be simple or complete.

The two friends cut the banana plant into two.

Simple subject: friends

Complete subject: The two friends

Simple predicate: cut

Complete predicate: cut the banana plant into two

The monkey got the top part of the plant.

Simple subject: monkey

Complete subject: The monkey

Simple predicate: got

Complete predicate: got the top part of the plant