Chapter 21: Subject and Predicate

Every complete sentence in English has two fundamental parts working together: the subject and predicate. Understanding these two essential components is like learning the building blocks of a house—once you know how they work, you can construct sentences of any size and complexity. The subject tells us who or what the sentence is about, while the predicate tells us what the subject does or is. Together, they form the foundation of all English communication, from simple statements to complex ideas.

1. Every Sentence Has Two Parts

Think of a complete sentence as a team with two players working together. Neither player can win the game alone—both are absolutely essential. These two players in every sentence are the subject and the predicate.

The subject and predicate work as partners to create meaning. Without a subject, we don’t know who or what we’re talking about. Without a predicate, we don’t know what’s happening or what’s being said about the subject. Together, they form a complete thought—which is exactly what makes a sentence a sentence.

Let’s look at a simple example:

• Dogs bark.

In this sentence:

• Dogs = subject (who we’re talking about)
• bark = predicate (what they do)

Every sentence you write or speak, from the simplest to the most complex, will have these two essential parts. Let’s explore each part in detail.

2. What is a Subject?

I. The Subject: The “Who” or “What”

The subject is the part of the sentence that tells us WHO or WHAT the sentence is about. It’s the main character in your sentence—the person, place, thing, or idea that’s doing something or being described.

To find the subject, ask yourself these questions:

• Who is the sentence about?
• What is the sentence about?

The answer to these questions will be your subject. The subject is typically a noun (a person, place, thing, or idea) or a pronoun (a word that replaces a noun, like I, you, he, she, it, we, they).

II. Finding the Subject

Here’s how to identify the subject in any sentence:

Step 1: Read the sentence carefully.
Step 2: Ask “Who?” or “What?” before the verb.
Step 3: The answer is your subject!

Let’s practice with examples:

Example 1: The cat sleeps on the couch.
Question: Who sleeps on the couch?
Answer: The cat (This is the subject)

Example 2: My teacher explains the lesson.
Question: Who explains the lesson?
Answer: My teacher (This is the subject)

Example 3: The books are on the shelf.
Question: What are on the shelf?
Answer: The books (This is the subject)

Example 4: Pizza tastes delicious.
Question: What tastes delicious?
Answer: Pizza (This is the subject)

Here are 40+ examples showing subjects in various sentences:

People as subjects:

• Sarah runs every morning.
• The children play in the park.
• My mother cooks delicious meals.
• The doctor examines the patient.
• Students study for their exams.
• The baby cries loudly.
• My brother loves video games.
• Teachers help students learn.

Animals as subjects:

• The dog barks at strangers.
• Birds fly in the sky.
• The cat chases mice.
• Elephants have long trunks.
• Fish swim in the ocean.
• The lion roars loudly.

Things as subjects:

• The car moves fast.
• The sun shines brightly.
• The door opens slowly.
• My phone rings constantly.
• The book fell off the table.
• Rain falls from the clouds.
• The clock ticks loudly.
• Computers make our work easier.

Places as subjects:

• The school closes at 3 PM.
• Our city has many parks.
• The restaurant opens early.
• My house needs repairs.

Ideas as subjects:

• Happiness comes from within.
• Love conquers all.
• Freedom is important.
• Knowledge is power.

Pronouns as subjects:

• I love reading books.
• You are my best friend.
• He plays basketball.
• She sings beautifully.
• It tastes good.
• We work together.
• They arrive tomorrow.

3. Simple Subject

I. Understanding Simple Subject

The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun that tells who or what the sentence is about—without any of the describing words that might come with it. It’s the core, the essential part of the subject, stripped down to its most basic form.

Think of the simple subject as the heart of the subject. It’s the single most important word that answers “Who?” or “What?”

To find the simple subject:

• First, find the complete subject (all the words that tell who or what)
• Then, identify just the main noun or pronoun
• Ignore all describing words (adjectives, articles like “the” or “a”)

II. Simple Subject Examples

Let’s look at examples where we identify the simple subject:

Example 1: The big, fluffy dog barked loudly.
Complete subject: The big, fluffy dog
Simple subject: dog

Example 2: My favorite red car needs repairs.
Complete subject: My favorite red car
Simple subject: car

Example 3: The young children in the playground were laughing.
Complete subject: The young children in the playground
Simple subject: children

Here are 30+ more examples showing simple subjects:

With single-word subjects:

• The cat meows. (Simple subject: cat)
• Sarah runs fast. (Simple subject: Sarah)
• Dogs bark. (Simple subject: Dogs)
• The teacher explains. (Simple subject: teacher)
• My brother plays. (Simple subject: brother)

With describing words:

• The small bird sings. (Simple subject: bird)
• A beautiful flower blooms. (Simple subject: flower)
• The old, wise man spoke. (Simple subject: man)
• My happy friend smiles. (Simple subject: friend)
• The red, shiny apple fell. (Simple subject: apple)
• A talented young artist paints. (Simple subject: artist)
• The enormous blue whale swims. (Simple subject: whale)
• Three little kittens play. (Simple subject: kittens)
• The exhausted runner stopped. (Simple subject: runner)
• Her favorite song plays. (Simple subject: song)

With longer phrases:

• The book on the table belongs to me. (Simple subject: book)
• My friend from school called yesterday. (Simple subject: friend)
• The man in the blue suit arrived early. (Simple subject: man)
• The students in my class study hard. (Simple subject: students)
• The house across the street is old. (Simple subject: house)
• The girl with long hair dances well. (Simple subject: girl)
• My sister from California visits often. (Simple subject: sister)
• The flowers in the garden smell wonderful. (Simple subject: flowers)

With pronouns as simple subjects:

• I love pizza. (Simple subject: I)
• You are smart. (Simple subject: You)
• He runs fast. (Simple subject: He)
• She reads books. (Simple subject: She)
• It works well. (Simple subject: It)
• We enjoy music. (Simple subject: We)
• They play soccer. (Simple subject: They)

4. Complete Subject

I. Understanding Complete Subject

The complete subject includes the simple subject plus ALL the words that describe it or modify it. It’s the entire group of words that tells who or what the sentence is about.

The complete subject = simple subject + all its modifiers (describing words, phrases)

The complete subject gives us the full picture of who or what we’re talking about, with all the details included.

II. Complete Subject Examples

Let’s examine examples showing the difference between simple and complete subjects:

Example 1: The big, fluffy, white dog barked at the mailman.
Complete subject: The big, fluffy, white dog
Simple subject: dog

Example 2: My best friend from elementary school called me yesterday.
Complete subject: My best friend from elementary school
Simple subject: friend

Example 3: All of the students in my class passed the test.
Complete subject: All of the students in my class
Simple subject: students

Here are 30+ examples showing complete subjects:

Complete subjects with adjectives:

• The happy children play outside. (Complete subject: The happy children; Simple subject: children)
• A small, green turtle swam slowly. (Complete subject: A small, green turtle; Simple subject: turtle)
• The old, rusty car broke down. (Complete subject: The old, rusty car; Simple subject: car)
• Five beautiful flowers bloom in spring. (Complete subject: Five beautiful flowers; Simple subject: flowers)
• The tall, dark stranger appeared suddenly. (Complete subject: The tall, dark stranger; Simple subject: stranger)
• My favorite blue shirt is clean. (Complete subject: My favorite blue shirt; Simple subject: shirt)
• Several smart students answered correctly. (Complete subject: Several smart students; Simple subject: students)

Complete subjects with prepositional phrases:

• The book on the shelf is mine. (Complete subject: The book on the shelf; Simple subject: book)
• The man in the blue jacket waved. (Complete subject: The man in the blue jacket; Simple subject: man)
• The dog with the spotted coat ran away. (Complete subject: The dog with the spotted coat; Simple subject: dog)
• The house across the street is for sale. (Complete subject: The house across the street; Simple subject: house)
• The students in room 205 are quiet. (Complete subject: The students in room 205; Simple subject: students)
• The flowers in the garden smell sweet. (Complete subject: The flowers in the garden; Simple subject: flowers)

Complete subjects with multiple modifiers:

• The three little brown puppies played together. (Complete subject: The three little brown puppies; Simple subject: puppies)
• My older sister with the long hair graduated yesterday. (Complete subject: My older sister with the long hair; Simple subject: sister)
• The extremely talented young musician performed beautifully. (Complete subject: The extremely talented young musician; Simple subject: musician)
• All of my friends from school came to the party. (Complete subject: All of my friends from school; Simple subject: friends)
• The first five chapters of the book were exciting. (Complete subject: The first five chapters of the book; Simple subject: chapters)

Complete subjects with single words (simple = complete):

• Dogs bark. (Complete subject = Simple subject: Dogs)
• Sarah runs. (Complete subject = Simple subject: Sarah)
• Birds fly. (Complete subject = Simple subject: Birds)
• Pizza tastes good. (Complete subject = Simple subject: Pizza)
• I love music. (Complete subject = Simple subject: I)
• They arrived early. (Complete subject = Simple subject: They)

Complete subjects with relative clauses:

• The student who studies hard succeeds. (Complete subject: The student who studies hard; Simple subject: student)
• The movie that won the award was excellent. (Complete subject: The movie that won the award; Simple subject: movie)
• Anyone who wants to come is welcome. (Complete subject: Anyone who wants to come; Simple subject: Anyone)

5. What is a Predicate?

I. The Predicate: The “Does” or “Is”

The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells what the subject DOES or what the subject IS. It’s the action or description part of the sentence. While the subject tells us WHO or WHAT, the predicate tells us the rest of the story.

Every predicate contains a verb—it’s the heart of the predicate. The verb might be an action verb (showing what the subject does) or a linking verb (showing what the subject is or seems to be).

II. Finding the Predicate

To find the predicate, follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the subject first (Who or what is the sentence about?)
Step 2: Everything else in the sentence is the predicate
Step 3: The predicate always includes the verb

Ask yourself: “What does the subject do?” or “What is the subject?”

Let’s practice:

Example 1: The cat | sleeps on the couch.
Subject: The cat
Predicate: sleeps on the couch
What does the cat do? sleeps on the couch

Example 2: My teacher | explains the lesson clearly.
Subject: My teacher
Predicate: explains the lesson clearly
What does my teacher do? explains the lesson clearly

Example 3: The books | are on the shelf.
Subject: The books
Predicate: are on the shelf
What are the books doing/where are they? are on the shelf

Here are 40+ examples showing predicates in various sentences:

Predicates with action verbs:

• Sarah | runs every morning.
• The children | play in the park.
• My mother | cooks delicious meals.
• The doctor | examines the patient carefully.
• Students | study for their exams.
• The dog | barks at strangers.
• Birds | fly south for the winter.
• The cat | chases the mouse quickly.

Predicates with being verbs:

• My sister | is a talented musician.
• The flowers | are beautiful.
• I | am happy today.
• The test | was difficult.
• They | were excited about the trip.
• The weather | is cold.

Predicates with sensory/linking verbs:

• The soup | tastes delicious.
• The flowers | smell sweet.
• She | looks tired.
• The music | sounds beautiful.
• The blanket | feels soft.
• He | seems worried.
• They | appear ready.

Short predicates (verb only):

• Dogs | bark.
• Birds | sing.
• Time | flies.
• The sun | shines.
• Babies | cry.

Longer predicates (with objects and modifiers):

• The students | completed their homework before dinner.
• My father | drives to work every morning at 7 AM.
• The audience | applauded loudly after the performance.
• The young girl | wrote a beautiful poem for her mother.
• Our team | won the championship game yesterday.
• The librarian | organizes all the books by category.

6. Simple Predicate

I. Understanding Simple Predicate

The simple predicate is the main verb or verb phrase in the predicate. It’s the core action or state of being—the essential verb that tells what the subject does or is.

Just like the simple subject strips away all the describing words to find the main noun, the simple predicate strips away all the extra words to find the main verb.

The simple predicate can be:

• A single verb: runs, jumps, is
• A verb phrase: is running, has jumped, will be
• A helping verb + main verb: could sing, should study, might go

II. Simple Predicate Examples

Let’s look at examples identifying the simple predicate:

Example 1: The dog barked loudly at the mailman.
Complete predicate: barked loudly at the mailman
Simple predicate: barked

Example 2: My sister is studying medicine at the university.
Complete predicate: is studying medicine at the university
Simple predicate: is studying (verb phrase)

Example 3: The children will arrive tomorrow morning.
Complete predicate: will arrive tomorrow morning
Simple predicate: will arrive (verb phrase)

Here are 30+ examples showing simple predicates:

Single-word simple predicates:

• The cat sleeps peacefully. (Simple predicate: sleeps)
• Birds sing in the morning. (Simple predicate: sing)
• The baby cries loudly. (Simple predicate: cries)
• My friend laughed at the joke. (Simple predicate: laughed)
• The sun shines brightly. (Simple predicate: shines)
• Water flows downhill. (Simple predicate: flows)
• The bell rings at noon. (Simple predicate: rings)

Verb phrases as simple predicates:

• She is reading a book. (Simple predicate: is reading)
• They have finished their work. (Simple predicate: have finished)
• I will go tomorrow. (Simple predicate: will go)
• We were playing soccer. (Simple predicate: were playing)
• He has been studying all night. (Simple predicate: has been studying)
• The team will be practicing later. (Simple predicate: will be practicing)
• She should have called earlier. (Simple predicate: should have called)

Simple predicates with modal verbs:

• You can swim well. (Simple predicate: can swim)
• They might come to the party. (Simple predicate: might come)
• I must finish this project. (Simple predicate: must finish)
• We should study harder. (Simple predicate: should study)
• She could have won the race. (Simple predicate: could have won)

Simple predicates with being verbs:

• The answer is correct. (Simple predicate: is)
• They were tired after the game. (Simple predicate: were)
• I am a student. (Simple predicate: am)
• The flowers are beautiful. (Simple predicate: are)
• It was cold yesterday. (Simple predicate: was)

Simple predicates in questions:

• Did you finish your homework? (Simple predicate: Did finish)
• Will they arrive on time? (Simple predicate: Will arrive)
• Has she called yet? (Simple predicate: Has called)
• Are you ready? (Simple predicate: Are)

7. Complete Predicate

I. Understanding Complete Predicate

The complete predicate includes the simple predicate (the verb) plus ALL the words that complete its meaning. This includes objects, complements, modifiers (adverbs), and prepositional phrases that tell more about the action or state of being.

The complete predicate = simple predicate + all words that complete or modify the verb

The complete predicate gives us the full picture of what’s happening or what’s being said about the subject.

II. Complete Predicate Examples

Let’s examine the difference between simple and complete predicates:

Example 1: The dog | barked loudly at the stranger.
Complete predicate: barked loudly at the stranger
Simple predicate: barked

Example 2: My sister | plays the piano beautifully every evening.
Complete predicate: plays the piano beautifully every evening
Simple predicate: plays

Example 3: The students | studied hard for the important test.
Complete predicate: studied hard for the important test
Simple predicate: studied

Here are 30+ examples showing complete predicates:

Complete predicates with direct objects:

• The teacher | teaches English grammar. (Complete predicate: teaches English grammar; Simple predicate: teaches)
• My mother | bakes delicious chocolate cakes. (Complete predicate: bakes delicious chocolate cakes; Simple predicate: bakes)
• The children | built a tall sandcastle. (Complete predicate: built a tall sandcastle; Simple predicate: built)
• We | watched an exciting movie. (Complete predicate: watched an exciting movie; Simple predicate: watched)
• She | reads mystery novels. (Complete predicate: reads mystery novels; Simple predicate: reads)

Complete predicates with adverbs:

• The athlete | runs very quickly. (Complete predicate: runs very quickly; Simple predicate: runs)
• The baby | sleeps peacefully. (Complete predicate: sleeps peacefully; Simple predicate: sleeps)
• Birds | sing beautifully in the morning. (Complete predicate: sing beautifully in the morning; Simple predicate: sing)
• He | speaks softly. (Complete predicate: speaks softly; Simple predicate: speaks)
• They | arrived late to the meeting. (Complete predicate: arrived late to the meeting; Simple predicate: arrived)

Complete predicates with prepositional phrases:

• The cat | jumped on the table. (Complete predicate: jumped on the table; Simple predicate: jumped)
• Students | study in the library. (Complete predicate: study in the library; Simple predicate: study)
• The bird | flew over the house. (Complete predicate: flew over the house; Simple predicate: flew)
• My family | lives near the beach. (Complete predicate: lives near the beach; Simple predicate: lives)
• The package | arrived at noon. (Complete predicate: arrived at noon; Simple predicate: arrived)

Complete predicates with complements:

• My brother | is a talented musician. (Complete predicate: is a talented musician; Simple predicate: is)
• The soup | tastes delicious. (Complete predicate: tastes delicious; Simple predicate: tastes)
• She | became a doctor. (Complete predicate: became a doctor; Simple predicate: became)
• The flowers | smell wonderful. (Complete predicate: smell wonderful; Simple predicate: smell)
• They | seem happy. (Complete predicate: seem happy; Simple predicate: seem)

Long, complex complete predicates:

• The dedicated student | studied diligently for three hours every single night before the final exam. (Complete predicate: studied diligently for three hours every single night before the final exam; Simple predicate: studied)
• My grandmother | tells fascinating stories about her childhood in the countryside. (Complete predicate: tells fascinating stories about her childhood in the countryside; Simple predicate: tells)
• The excited children | ran quickly to the playground after school ended. (Complete predicate: ran quickly to the playground after school ended; Simple predicate: ran)

Short complete predicates (verb only):

• Dogs | bark. (Complete predicate = Simple predicate: bark)
• Time | flies. (Complete predicate = Simple predicate: flies)
• She | smiled. (Complete predicate = Simple predicate: smiled)
• It | works. (Complete predicate = Simple predicate: works)

8. Dividing Sentences into Subject and Predicate

Now that you understand both parts, let’s practice dividing complete sentences into subject and predicate. We use a vertical line ( | ) to separate them, making it easy to see where one part ends and the other begins.

The formula is simple:

SUBJECT | PREDICATE

Let’s practice with many examples:

Simple examples:

• Dogs | bark.
• Children | play.
• The sun | shines.
• Birds | fly.
• Rain | falls.
• Babies | cry.
• Flowers | bloom.
• Time | passes.
• Water | flows.
• Music | plays.

Examples with adjectives:

• The big dog | barks loudly.
• A small bird | sings beautifully.
• My best friend | called yesterday.
• The old house | needs repairs.
• Three little kittens | play together.
• The happy children | laugh joyfully.
• A tall tree | fell down.
• The red car | drives fast.

Examples with prepositional phrases:

• The book on the shelf | is mine.
• The man in the blue coat | waved at me.
• My friend from school | visits often.
• The students in my class | study hard.
• The cat under the table | is sleeping.
• The flowers in the garden | smell sweet.
• The house across the street | is for sale.
• A bird on the branch | is singing.

Examples with longer subjects and predicates:

• The talented young musician | performed beautifully at the concert.
• My older sister with the long hair | graduated from college yesterday.
• The three little brown puppies | played together in the backyard.
• All of the students in room 205 | completed their assignments on time.
• The old, rusty bicycle in the garage | needs to be repaired soon.
• The extremely tired marathon runner | finally crossed the finish line.

Examples with pronouns as subjects:

• I | love reading books.
• You | are my best friend.
• He | plays basketball every day.
• She | sings in the choir.
• It | tastes delicious.
• We | work together on projects.
• They | arrived early to the party.

Examples with compound verbs (preview):

• The dog | barked and jumped.
• She | sings and dances.
• The children | laughed and played.
• My father | cooks and cleans.

Practice exercise: Try dividing these sentences yourself!

• The bright yellow sun warms the earth.
• My favorite teacher explains things clearly.
• The young boy rode his bicycle to school.
• Several colorful butterflies flew around the garden.
• The excited fans cheered loudly for their team.

9. Compound Subjects

I. What is a Compound Subject?

A compound subject is when a sentence has TWO OR MORE subjects that share the same predicate. These subjects are usually joined by conjunctions like “and,” “or,” or “nor.”

Think of compound subjects as multiple actors in the same scene, all performing the same action or being described in the same way.

Formula: Subject 1 + Subject 2 (+ Subject 3…) | Predicate

The key features of compound subjects:

• Two or more subjects
• Share the same verb/predicate
• Connected by conjunctions (usually “and” or “or”)
• Act as a single unit in the sentence

II. Compound Subject Examples

Let’s look at examples of compound subjects:

Example 1: Tom and Jerry | are best friends.
Compound subject: Tom and Jerry (two subjects)
Predicate: are best friends

Example 2: Cats, dogs, and birds | make good pets.
Compound subject: Cats, dogs, and birds (three subjects)
Predicate: make good pets

Example 3: My mother or my father | will drive me to school.
Compound subject: My mother or my father
Predicate: will drive me to school

Here are 20+ examples of compound subjects:

Compound subjects with “and”:

• Sarah and Michael | study together every day.
• The teacher and the students | went on a field trip.
• Milk and cookies | taste good together.
• Books and magazines | are on the shelf.
• Dogs and cats | are popular pets.
• My brother and I | love playing video games.
• Rain and snow | are forms of precipitation.
• Pizza and pasta | are Italian foods.
• The sun and the moon | shine in the sky.
• Apples and oranges | are healthy fruits.

Compound subjects with “or”:

• John or Mary | will answer the phone.
• Coffee or tea | is served at breakfast.
• You or your friend | can help me.
• The teacher or the principal | will make the announcement.
• A pen or a pencil | is needed for the test.

Compound subjects with “nor”:

• Neither rain nor snow | stops the mail delivery.
• Neither my brother nor my sister | likes vegetables.
• Neither the cat nor the dog | wants to go outside.

Compound subjects with three or more items:

• Red, white, and blue | are the colors of the flag.
• Reading, writing, and arithmetic | are basic school subjects.
• Spring, summer, fall, and winter | are the four seasons.

10. Compound Predicates

I. What is a Compound Predicate?

A compound predicate is when ONE subject has TWO OR MORE verbs or verb phrases. The subject performs multiple actions or is described in multiple ways—all in the same sentence.

Think of compound predicates as one actor performing multiple actions in sequence.

Formula: Subject | Verb 1 + Verb 2 (+ Verb 3…)

The key features of compound predicates:

• One subject
• Two or more verbs/actions
• Connected by conjunctions (usually “and,” “or,” or “but”)
• All verbs relate to the same subject

II. Compound Predicate Examples

Let’s look at examples of compound predicates:

Example 1: The dog | barked and ran.
Subject: The dog
Compound predicate: barked and ran (two actions)

Example 2: She | sings, dances, and acts.
Subject: She
Compound predicate: sings, dances, and acts (three actions)

Example 3: My father | cooks dinner and washes the dishes.
Subject: My father
Compound predicate: cooks dinner and washes the dishes

Here are 20+ examples of compound predicates:

Compound predicates with “and”:

• The baby | cried and laughed.
• Birds | sing and fly.
• The student | reads and writes.
• She | studies hard and gets good grades.
• The cat | jumped on the table and knocked over the vase.
• My brother | plays soccer and swims.
• The teacher | explains the lesson and answers questions.
• We | walked to the store and bought some milk.
• The sun | rises in the east and sets in the west.
• He | washed his hands and dried them.

Compound predicates with “but”:

• I | wanted to go but stayed home.
• She | tried hard but failed the test.
• The team | played well but lost the game.
• He | knocked on the door but nobody answered.

Compound predicates with “or”:

• You can | stay here or come with us.
• The students must | finish their homework or receive a zero.
• We will | walk or take the bus.

Compound predicates with three or more verbs:

• She | runs, jumps, and throws.
• The dog | barked, wagged its tail, and jumped up.
• I | woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and left for school.

Exercises

Test Your Knowledge

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve now mastered one of the most fundamental concepts in English grammar: subject and predicate. Understanding that every sentence has these two essential parts—the subject (who or what) and the predicate (does or is)—gives you a powerful foundation for all future grammar learning.

Remember, the subject is like the main character in your sentence’s story, telling WHO or WHAT the sentence is about. The predicate is like the plot, telling what happens or describing the subject. Together, they create complete thoughts that communicate clearly and effectively.

You’ve learned to identify simple subjects and predicates (the core nouns and verbs), complete subjects and predicates (including all modifying words), compound subjects (multiple subjects sharing one predicate), and compound predicates (one subject performing multiple actions). These skills will serve you well as you continue building more sophisticated sentences and developing your writing abilities. Practice dividing sentences into their two parts regularly, and soon identifying subject and predicate will become second nature!

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