NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What does the term "predicate" refer to in a sentence?

1. The subject of the sentence

2. The action or state of being of the subject

3. The introduction of the main idea

4. The conclusion drawn from the discussion

The correct answer is: The action or state of being of the subject

The term "predicate" refers to the part of the sentence that tells us what the subject does or describes the subject's state of being. It includes the verb and any objects or modifiers related to the verb. In this context, the predicate conveys the action or condition of the subject, providing crucial information about who is performing an action or in what state they exist. For example, in the sentence "The cat sleeps on the couch," "sleeps on the couch" is the predicate, detailing what the subject (the cat) is doing. Understanding the role of the predicate is essential for grammatical clarity, as it offers a complete thought by linking the subject to its action or description, which is foundational in constructing meaningful sentences.