WordGarden.iopredicate
B2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈprɛdəˌkeɪt/
Meanings
Noun
the part of a sentence that says something about the subject
in logic, a property or relation asserted of something
Verb
to base or make dependent on something
to assert or attribute something of a subject
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're telling a story. You have someone or something the story is about—that's your subject. The predicate is everything you say about that subject! It tells us what the subject does, is, feels, or experiences.
Think of it like this: "The dog barked." "Dog" is the subject. Everything else—"barked"—is the predicate. It's the part that tells us something about the subject. Predicates aren't always actions, though. They can also describe a state of being, like in "The sky is blue." Here, "is blue" is the predicate. You may also meet the word outside grammar. In logic, it can mean a quality or property that may be true of something. As a verb, "predicate on" means "base on." Understanding predicates helps you see how sentences are built and what they mean.
The predicate is a fundamental part of sentence structure, representing everything in a sentence that isn't the subject. It essentially predicates (yes, the words are related!) something about the subject—it tells us what the subject does, is, has, or feels.
In its simplest form, the predicate is usually a verb and any objects or modifiers connected to it. For example: "The cat chased the mouse." Here, "chased the mouse" is the predicate. But predicates can be much more complex! They can include helping verbs ("She has been studying"), adverbs that describe how an action happens ("He ran quickly"), and prepositional phrases that add detail ("The book lies on the table").
Understanding predicates isn't just about grammar; it's about understanding meaning. It helps us break down sentences to see what information is being conveyed. In logic and mathematics, a predicate also has a specific meaning—it's a property or characteristic that can be true or false for a given subject.
Finally, in formal or academic English, you will often see the word used as a verb: to predicate something on or upon something else. This means to base an idea or action on a specific foundation or set of facts. For example: "The company's success is predicated on its ability to innovate." Whether you're analyzing a sentence, building a logical argument, or basing a theory on facts, the predicate is the essential part that provides the "what" to the subject's "who."
Examples
- 1
Grammar term
In "The baby is sleeping," "is sleeping" is the predicate.
- 2
Sentence structure
A complete sentence usually has a subject and a predicate.
- 3
Classroom exercise
The teacher asked us to underline the predicate in each sentence.
- 4
Planning assumption
The plan is predicated on the idea that prices will stay low.
- Patternbe predicated on + idea/assumption
be based on it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Argument basis
His whole argument was predicated on one false assumption.
- 6
Logic term
In logic, "is red" can be treated as a predicate.
See also
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- subject and predicate
- complete predicate
- simple predicate
Word family
- predicative
- predication
Explore
- clause
- verb phrase
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- predicatenounverb
Forms
- predicatedpast tenseverbnoun
- predicatespluralnounverb
- predicating-ing formverbnoun