Back to Grammar
Predicate - tells something about the subject. A predicate may be one or more words.
Simple predicate (or simply, the verb) - the main word in the complete predicate, or verb(s). The simple predicate can also be a verb phrase.
ex. - He has wanted a dog for a long time. (Words in italics are the verb phrase.)
Remember!: A verb phrase can be interrupted by an adverb which is not part of the verb phrase, but is part of the complete predicate.
ex. - He has never wanted a dog. (Word in italics is the adverb that interrupts the verb phrase.)
ex. - The dog on the bench is a boxer. (Word in italics is the simple predicate)
Complete predicate - the verb and all the words that describe the verb and fill out its meaning. (See the above reminder under "simple predicate."
ex. - The dog on the bench is a boxer. (Words in italics are the complete predicate)
Compound verb - two or more verbs that share a subject, usually connected by the conjunctions "and" or "or."
ex. - The dog on the bench barked and jumped. (Words in italics are the compound verbs.)
Home