subject
The subject (abbreviated sub or su) is one of the two main constituents of a clause, according to a tradition that can be tracked back to Aristotle and that is associated withphrase structure grammars; the other constituent is the predicate. According to another tradition, i.e. the one associated with predicate logic and dependency grammars, the subject is the most prominent overt argument of the predicate. Both traditions see the subject in English governing agreement on the verb or auxiliary verb that carries the maintense of the sentence, as exemplified by the difference in verb forms between he eatsand they eat.
The subject has the grammatical function in a sentence of relating its constituent (a noun phrase) by means of the verb to any other elements present in the sentence, i.e. objects,complements and adverbials.
The subject is a phrasal constituent, and should be distinguished from parts of speech, which, roughly, classify words within constituent.
Predicate
There are two competing notions of the predicate in theories of grammar.[1] Traditional grammar tends to view a predicate as one of two main parts of a sentence, the other part being the subject. The purpose of the predicate is to modify the subject. The other understanding of predicates is inspired from work in predicate calculus (predicate logic, first order logic) and is prominent in modern theories of syntax and grammar. On this approach, the predicate of a sentence corresponds mainly to the main verb and any auxiliaries that accompany the main verb, whereby the arguments of that predicate (e.g. the subject and object noun phrases) are outside of the predicate. The competition between these two concepts has generated confusion concerning the use of the term predicate in theories of grammar. This article considers both of these notions.
Subject and predicate exercise for kids
Find out the subject and predicate in the sentences given below. Write your answers in the space provided.
1. The old man sat under a tree.
Subject ………………………………………………………. / Predicate ………………………………………………………………
2. Alice sang a beautiful song.
Subject …………………………………………………….. / Predicate ……………………………………………………………….
3. She walked around the house.
Subject ……………………………………………………. / Predicate ………………………………………………………………..
4. The boy solved the puzzle.
Subject …………………………………………………… / Predicate …………………………………………………………………
5. I work at a bank.
Subject ……………………………………………………. / Predicate ………………………………………………………………..
6. We started in the morning.
Subject ……………………………………………………. / Predicate ………………………………………………………………..
7. India is the largest democracy in the world.
Subject …………………………………………………. / Predicate ………………………………………………………………
8. My sister lives abroad.
Subject ……………………………………………….. / Predicate ………………………………………………………………..
9. Susie can speak English.
Subject ……………………………………………….. / Predicate ………………………………………………………………..
10. The earth goes around the sun.
Subject ……………………………………………….. / Predicate …………………………………………………………………
11. That was a brilliant idea.
Subject ……………………………………………. / Predicate ………………………………………………………..
12. The soldiers fought bravely.
Subject ……………………………………………. / Predicate ………………………………………………………
Answers
1. Subject – the old man; predicate – sat under a tree
2. Subject – Alice; predicate – sang a beautiful song
3. Subject – She; predicate – walked around the house
4. Subject – the boy; predicate – solved the puzzle
5. Subject – I; predicate – work at a bank
6. Subject – we; predicate – started in the morning
7. Subject – India; predicate – is the largest democracy in the world
8. Subject – my sister; predicate – lives abroad
9. Subject – Susie; predicate – can speak English
10. Subject – the earth; predicate – goes around the sun
11. Subject – that; predicate – was a brilliant idea
12. Subject – the soldiers; predicate – fought bravely
