Can be a simple predicate?

"Can be" is not a simple predicate by itself. It is a verb phrase, which is a combination of a verb and other words like helping verbs and adverbs.

A simple predicate consists only of a verb.

Here's how to break down "can be":

* Can: Helping verb

* Be: Main verb

To form a simple predicate, you need to use just the main verb, be, in a sentence.

Example:

* They are happy. (The simple predicate is are)

Let me know if you have other phrases you'd like to analyze!