Subject and Predicate. What is Subject? What is Predicate? 200 Sentences of Subject and Predicate

Subject and Predicate in English Grammar

Understanding Subject and Predicate is one of the most important foundations of English grammar. Every complete sentence in English is built around these two core elements. Whether you are a school student, a competitive exam aspirant, a spoken English learner, or a content writer, mastering subject and predicate will dramatically improve your grammar, sentence formation, and communication skills.

This detailed guide explains subject and predicate in simple language with clear rules, real-life examples, spoken English patterns, common mistakes, exercises, and exam-focused explanations.

What Is a Sentence?

Before learning subject and predicate, it is essential to understand what a sentence is.

A sentence is a group of words that:

• Makes complete sense
• Expresses a full idea
• Contains at least one subject and one predicate

Examples:

• She runs.
• The children are playing in the park.
• My brother works in a bank.

Each of these sentences has two parts:

1. Subject
2. Predicate

What Is a Subject?

The subject of a sentence is the part that tells us:

• Who or what the sentence is about
•  Who performs the action
•  Who or what is being described

In simple words, the subject answers the question:
Who? or What?

Examples:

• Ram plays cricket.
  Subject: Ram
• The dog is barking.
  Subject: The dog
• My best friend lives in London.
  Subject: My best friend

Definition of Subject

The subject is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action or is described in the sentence. The subject is the part of a sentence that tells us who or what the sentence is about. It is the word or group of words that performs the action of the verb or is described by the verb.

In other words, the subject answers the questions “who?” or “what?” before the verb.

Examples:

• The boy plays football.
• She is reading a book.
• My friends are waiting outside.

In each sentence, the highlighted word or group of words is the subject because it tells us who is doing the action or who is being described.

Types of Subject

Subjects can appear in many forms. Understanding these forms helps in identifying subjects easily.

Simple Subject

The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun without modifiers.

Examples:

• The boy is crying.
  Simple subject: boy
• Those books are expensive.
  Simple subject: books
• She is a doctor.
  Simple subject: she

Complete Subject

The complete subject includes the simple subject along with all its modifiers.

Examples:

• The tall boy is crying.
  Complete subject: The tall boy
• Those old history books are expensive.
  Complete subject: Those old history books
• My younger sister is a doctor.
  Complete subject: My younger sister

Compound Subject

A compound subject contains two or more subjects joined by conjunctions like and, or, nor.

Examples:

• Ram and Shyam are brothers.
• Tea and coffee are popular drinks.
• The teacher and the students were present.

Subject as a Pronoun

Pronouns often act as subjects.

Examples:

• I am ready.
• He works hard.
• They have finished the work.

Subject as a Gerund

A gerund (verb + ing acting as a noun) can be a subject.

Examples: 

• Reading improves knowledge.
• Swimming is a good exercise.
• Travelling broadens the mind.

Subject as an Infinitive

An infinitive can also function as a subject.

Examples: 

• To err is human.
• To forgive is divine.
• To learn English is important.

Implicit Subject (Understood Subject)

In imperative sentences, the subject is usually understood.

Examples:

• Close the door.
  Subject: You
• Please sit down.
  Subject: You
• Listen carefully.
  Subject: You

What Is a Predicate?

The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells us something about the subject.

It includes:

• The verb
• Objects
• Complements
• Modifiers

Examples:

• Ram plays cricket.
  Predicate: plays cricket
• The dog is barking loudly.
  Predicate: is barking loudly
• My brother works in a bank.
  Predicate: works in a bank

Definition of Predicate

The predicate is the part of a sentence that tells something about the subject. It contains the verb and all the words that give information about what the subject does, has, or is.

In simple words, the predicate explains the action, state, or condition of the subject.

Examples:

• he boy plays football.
• She is reading a book.
• My friends are waiting outside.

In each sentence, the highlighted part is the predicate because it includes the verb and completes the meaning of the subject.

Types of Predicate

Simple Predicate

The simple predicate is only the verb or verb phrase.

Examples:

• She sings beautifully.
  Simple predicate: sings
• They have arrived.
  Simple predicate: have arrived
• The baby is sleeping.
  Simple predicate: is sleeping

Complete Predicate

The complete predicate includes the verb and all words that follow it.

Examples:

• She sings beautifully at concerts.
  Complete predicate: sings beautifully at concerts
• They have arrived safely at the station.
  Complete predicate: have arrived safely at the station
• The baby is sleeping peacefully in the cradle.
  Complete predicate: is sleeping peacefully in the cradle

Compound Predicate

A compound predicate has two or more verbs related to the same subject.

Examples:

• He came home and rested.
•  She sings and dances well.
• The dog barked and ran away.

Subject and Predicate Together

A sentence becomes meaningful only when subject and predicate work together.

Examples:

• The sun rises.
  Subject: The sun
  Predicate: rises
• Birds fly in the sky.
  Subject: Birds
  Predicate: fly in the sky
• My father reads the newspaper every morning.
  Subject: My father
  Predicate: reads the newspaper every morning

How to Identify Subject and Predicate Easily

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the verb
Step 2: Ask who or what is performing the action
Step 3: That is the subject
Step 4: The remaining part is the predicate

Example:

• The little girl is drawing a picture.

Verb: is drawing
Who is drawing? The little girl
Subject: The little girl
Predicate: is drawing a picture

Subject and Predicate in Different Sentence Types

Assertive Sentences

Examples:

• She likes music.
• The train arrived late.

Interrogative Sentences

Examples:

• Are you ready?
  Subject: you
  Predicate: are ready
• Why is the child crying?
  Subject: the child
  Predicate: is crying

Negative Sentences

Examples: 

• He does not like coffee.
• They are not coming today.

Imperative Sentences

Examples:

• Complete your homework.
  Subject: You
  Predicate: complete your homework

Exclamatory Sentences

Examples:

• What a beautiful day it is!
• How fast the train is moving!

Agreement Between Subject and Predicate

Subject and verb must agree in number and person.

Examples:

• He runs fast.
• They run fast.
• The boy is happy.
• The boys are happy.

Common Errors in Subject and Predicate

Error 1: Missing Subject

Incorrect: Is raining heavily.
Correct: It is raining heavily.

Error 2: Wrong Verb Agreement

Incorrect: She go to school daily.
Correct: She goes to school daily.

Error 3: Incomplete Predicate

Incorrect: The teacher very strict.
Correct: The teacher is very strict.

Subject and Predicate in Spoken English

In spoken English, understanding subject and predicate helps in forming clear sentences.

Daily spoken examples:

• I am feeling tired.
• We are going home now.
• She does not understand this topic.
• They have already left.

Short spoken patterns:

• I am ready.
• He is busy.
• We are late.
• It is fine.

Subject and Predicate Practice Sentences

Identify subject and predicate:

1. The old man walks slowly.
2. My sister is preparing for exams.
3. Children love ice cream.
4. The teacher explained the lesson clearly.
5. The sun sets in the west.

Answers:

1. Subject: The old man , Predicate: walks slowly
2. Subject: My sister , Predicate: is preparing for exams
3. Subject: Children , Predicate: love ice cream
4. Subject: The teacher , Predicate: explained the lesson clearly
5. Subject: The sun , Predicate: sets in the west

Advanced Concepts of Subject and Predicate

Logical Subject

Sometimes the grammatical subject is different from the logical subject.

Example:

• It is easy to learn English.

Grammatical subject: It
Logical subject: To learn English

Subject Complement

A subject complement follows a linking verb and describes the subject.

Examples:

• She is a teacher.
• The sky looks blue.
• He became angry.

Subject and Predicate in Competitive Exams

Common exam questions include:

• Identify the subject
• Identify the predicate
• Error detection
• Sentence correction
• Fill in the blanks

Tip: Always locate the verb first. Exams often confuse students using long modifiers.

Subject and Predicate Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify Subject and Predicate

1. The clever fox escaped quickly.
2. My parents are visiting tomorrow.
3. The children were playing happily.
4. The manager approved the proposal.
5. The sky turned dark suddenly.

Exercise 2: Correct the Errors

1. The boy play cricket.
2. Raining heavily today.
3. She do not like tea.
4. The dogs is barking.
5. Walking is good exercise.

Corrected:

1. The boy plays cricket.
2. It is raining heavily today.
3. She does not like tea.
4. The dogs are barking.
5. Walking is a good exercise.

Importance of Subject and Predicate in Writing

Understanding subject and predicate helps in:

• Writing grammatically correct sentences
• Improving clarity
• Avoiding sentence fragments
• Enhancing spoken English
• Scoring better in exams
• Writing professional emails and content

Subject and Predicate for Beginners

Beginner tips:

• Start with simple sentences
• Identify verb first
• Practise daily
• Read aloud
• Use short sentences initially

Example:

• I eat food.
• She reads books.
• We watch TV.

Subject and Predicate for Advanced Learners

Advanced learners should focus on:

• Complex sentences
• Clauses
• Passive voice
• Inverted sentences

Example:

• The book was written by the author.
  Subject: The book
  Predicate: was written by the author

Frequently Asked Questions

Is every sentence made of subject and predicate?

Yes, every complete sentence has both, even if the subject is hidden.

Can a sentence have more than one subject?

Yes, this is called a compound subject.

Can a predicate exist without a verb?

No, a predicate must contain a verb.

Are imperatives missing subjects?

No, the subject is understood as “you”.

Conclusion

Subject and predicate form the backbone of English grammar. Without them, meaningful communication is impossible. By mastering these concepts, you gain control over sentence structure, clarity, and accuracy. Whether you aim to improve spoken English, perform well in exams, or write professional content, a strong understanding of subject and predicate is essential.

Consistent practice, clear identification of verbs, and awareness of sentence patterns will help you master this topic confidently.

200 Sentences of Subject and Predicate

Below are 200 sentences of Subject and Predicate:

Objects in English Grammar

Complements in English Grammar

Modifiers in English Grammar

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