Understanding Predicates

In this lesson, students will learn about predicates and how to recognize them in sentences.

To begin this lesson, you need to explain about predicates. I have written a study sheet to help you. After that, you can pass out the worksheet. The worksheet needs to be copied before the lesson. When the students have completed the worksheet, you can collect the papers and grade them.

Study Sheet

Predicates

Once you have located the subject, the predicates are easy to find. A predicate shows action. The subject is the one who is doing the action. There are different kinds of predicates just like there were for subjects.

Simple Predicate

The simple predicate, which can be from one to four words long, is the verb in the complete predicate.

Here are some examples:

1. The squirrel ran across the yard and over the fence.

2. The girl jogged for one mile to the park and one mile back home.

The Complete Predicate

The complete predicate is easy to locate once you know what the complete subject is. It's everything in the sentence that the complete subject isn't.

Here's an example: The girl with the short brown hair came to my house.

Came to my house is the complete predicate.

Compound Predicate

The compound predicate is two or more verbs joined by a conjunction such as and, or, or but.

Here is an example.

The goat ran around the yard and broke through the gate.

Worksheet on Predicates

Directions: Underline the complete predicate.

1. The girl ran around the yard.

2. The basketball player scored thirty points in the game.

3. The television show was too scary for the children.

4. He decided to come to my party.

5. Christy and Megan went to the movies.

6. The woman ran out of the house and ran away.

7. Sadey sat on the sofa and then started barking at the people outside.

8. The blue bird flew on the fence and then flew away.

9. The suspect dashed down the street and then hid in an abandoned building.

10. The police turned on their lights and chased the speeding car.

You can grade the students on the total number correct out of the total number possible.