Here's a breakdown:
What it does:
* Describes or modifies the subject: It tells us what the subject is doing, what it's like, or what is being done to it.
* Contains the verb: The verb is the core of the predicate and usually shows action or state of being.
Examples:
* Sentence: The cat slept on the couch.
* Subject: The cat
* Predicate: slept on the couch (the verb is "slept")
* Sentence: The sky is blue.
* Subject: The sky
* Predicate: is blue (the verb is "is")
* Sentence: She happily sang a song.
* Subject: She
* Predicate: happily sang a song (the verb is "sang")
Key Points:
* The predicate can be short or long.
* It can be a single word (like "slept") or a phrase (like "happily sang a song").
* The predicate can contain objects, adverbs, and prepositional phrases.
Why is it important?
Understanding predicates helps you:
* Analyze sentence structure: You can identify the main parts of a sentence and understand how they relate to each other.
* Improve your writing: By focusing on the predicate, you can make your writing more clear, concise, and impactful.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!