easy
In “The fox crossed the road,” crossed the road is the predicate.
What does Predicate mean?
A predicate says something about a sentence subject; as a formal verb, predicate means state or base on.
Dictionary definition
In many grammar systems, the predicate is the part of a clause that says something about the subject and normally includes the verb. In logic, a predicate expresses a property or relation; in computing, it is a test or function that returns true or false. As a formal verb, predicate means to state that something is true; in the common phrase be predicated on, it means to be based on or depend on something. Predicate is also an adjective in grammar terms such as predicate adjective.
Example sentences
Predicate in a sentence
medium
In “Birds have been singing,” many school grammars call have been singing the simple predicate or complete verb.
medium
In “The soup smells delicious,” delicious is a predicate adjective describing the soup.
hard
The forecast is predicated on the storm continuing north.
hard
The researcher would not predicate that the treatment worked before reviewing the evidence.
hard
In a computer filter, a predicate can test each value and return true or false.
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Predicate
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What is the predicate in “The children built a snow fort” ?
The predicate says what the subject, the children, did and includes the verb built.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses be predicated on correctly?
Here, predicated on means based on or dependent on an assumption.
Practice 3
Why is calm a predicate adjective in “The lake looks calm” ?
Calm completes the linking verb looks and describes the subject lake.
Practice complete
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Pronunciation coach
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Predicate
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Sounds like
pred · i · kit · strongest beat: pred
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordPredicate.
Partnoun, verb, adjective.
MeaningPredicate means A predicate says something about a sentence subject; as a formal verb, predicate means state or base on.
ExampleExample: In “The fox crossed the road,” crossed the road is the predicate.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- pred · i · kit
- Strongest beat
- pred
- Ending
- kit
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on pred.
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Synonyms
Words like Predicate
Antonym review
Does Predicate have an opposite?
Predicate has no direct general antonym. Subject is a complementary clause part, not an opposite; fragment is a completeness label, not the opposite of predicate.
Synonym practice
Want to practice predicate synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The predicate told what the subject did," then compare close word choices. Practice predicate synonyms.
Word family
Predicate word family
Base word
predicate
noun
predicates
More than one predicate; the same spelling is also a present-tense verb.
verb
predicated
Stated, based, or made dependent on something.
verb
predicating
Stating, basing, or making dependent on something.
noun
predication
The act of asserting something about a subject; a technical grammar and logic term.
adjective
predicative
Used in the predicate rather than directly before a noun, as happy in “They are happy.”
Related words
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Student support
Understand Predicate
Hint for students
Find the subject first. The predicate is what the clause says about that subject and normally contains the verb.
Common mix-up
Subject is not an antonym of predicate; the two are complementary parts in one common way of analysing a clause. The noun and adjective are PRED-i-kit, while the formal verb is PRED-i-kayt. Predicate does not mean predict.
Try it in class or at home
Give students six clauses. Have them divide each into subject and predicate, circle the central verb, then sort two additional examples of predicate as a formal verb or grammar adjective.
Teacher prompt
In “After lunch, the class planted seeds,” identify the subject and complete predicate. Then reduce the complete predicate to its central verb.
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