Subject and Predicate: Definition, Examples and Exercises

When we talk about English grammar, two words appear almost everywhere – subject and predicate. Every sentence we write or speak has a subject and a predicate. Understanding this concept is the foundation of strong grammar skills. Whether you are a student, parent, or teacher, this guide will help you learn what subject and predicate mean, how to identify them, and how to practice with worksheets and exercises.

In this blog, we’ll explore the subject and predicate definition, look at subject and predicate examples, solve worksheets, and try exercises that make the concept easy to grasp.

What is Subject and Predicate?

Before jumping into examples, let us first understand the basic definition.

Subject and Predicate Definition
In English grammar, a sentence is made up of two main parts:

• Subject – The subject tells us who or what the sentence is about.

• Predicate – The predicate tells us what the subject does or what happens to the subject.

Simply put:

• Subject = Who or What the sentence is about

• Predicate = What the subject is or does

Example:

• Sentence: The dog barked loudly.

• Subject: The dog

• Predicate: barked loudly

Without a subject and predicate, a group of words cannot form a complete sentence.

Why Subject and Predicate Matter

Why should students focus on subject and predicate?

• They are the building blocks of sentences.

• Understanding them helps in writing grammatically correct sentences.

• They improve reading comprehension.

• They make it easier to learn advanced grammar topics like clauses and sentence structure.

Subject and Predicate Examples

Now that we know the definition, let’s look at more subject and predicate examples for clarity.

Simple Sentences

1. The cat sleeps.

   • Subject: The cat

   • Predicate: sleeps

2. Birds fly.

   • Subject: Birds

   • Predicate: fly

With Descriptions

1. My best friend lives in Delhi.

   • Subject: My best friend

   • Predicate: lives in Delhi

2. The little boy is playing football.

   • Subject: The little boy

   • Predicate: is playing football

Compound Subject and Predicate

1. Riya and Sita sing beautifully.

   • Subject: Riya and Sita

   • Predicate: sing beautifully

2. The teacher taught the lesson and gave homework.

   • Subject: The teacher

   • Predicate: taught the lesson and gave homework.

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Subject and Predicate with Examples for Kids

Children often learn best through examples. Here are a few subject and predicate with examples in simple sentences for young learners:

1. The sun shines.

   • Subject: The sun

   • Predicate: shines

2. The dog ran across the road.

   • Subject: The dog

   • Predicate: ran across the road

3. My father drives a car.

   • Subject: My father

   • Predicate: drives a car

How to Identify Subject and Predicate

Many students ask: How do I find subject and predicate in a sentence? Here’s a step-by-step method:

1. Find the verb (action word or state of being).

   • Example: She runs fast. (Verb = runs)

2. Ask "Who" or "What" is doing that action?

   • Subject = She

3. The rest of the sentence after the subject is the predicate.

   • Predicate = runs fast

By practicing this method, identifying subject and predicate becomes easier.

Subject and Predicate Worksheets

Worksheets are an excellent way to reinforce the concept. Here are a few practice sentences. Ask students to underline the subject and circle the predicate.

Worksheet 1: Identify the Subject and Predicate

1. The train arrived late.

2. Children are playing in the park.

3. The flowers bloom in spring.

4. The old man walks slowly.

5. My sister cooks delicious food.

Answers:

1. Subject – The train | Predicate – arrived late

2. Subject – Children | Predicate – are playing in the park

3. Subject – The flowers | Predicate – bloom in spring

4. Subject – The old man | Predicate – walks slowly

5. Subject – My sister | Predicate – cooks delicious food

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Subject and Predicate Exercises

Try these subject and predicate exercises to test your understanding.

Exercise 1 – Fill in the blanks
Fill the missing part to complete the sentence:

1. The teacher _________

2. My friends _________

3. The baby _________

4. Birds _________

5. The girl _________

Possible Answers:

1. The teacher explained the chapter.

2. My friends are playing cricket.

3. The baby is sleeping.

4. Birds build nests.

5. The girl dances gracefully.

Exercise 2 – Identify subject and predicate

1. The boy is writing a letter.

2. The stars shine at night.

3. The little puppy followed me home.

4. Our team won the match.

5. The lion is called the king of the jungle.

Common Mistakes Students Make

Even though subject and predicate seem simple, students often make mistakes:

• Confusing the object with the subject.

• Thinking that only one word can be the subject.

• Missing compound subjects or predicates.

• Forgetting that every complete sentence must have both parts.

Simple and Compound Subjects and Predicates

Simple Subject
The main word that tells who or what the sentence is about.

• Example: The tall boy ran fast.

  • Simple subject = boy

Compound Subject
More than one subject doing the action.

• Example: Riya and Meera danced on stage.

  • Compound subject = Riya and Meera

Simple Predicate
The main verb or verb phrase.

• Example: He is playing.

  • Simple predicate = is playing

Compound Predicate
More than one action performed by the subject.

• Example: The child sang and danced.

  • Compound predicate = sang and danced

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History of Subject and Predicate in Grammar

The idea of dividing sentences into subject and predicate is not new. It comes from traditional grammar, which dates back to ancient Greece. Philosophers like Aristotle described sentences as having two parts – the "thing we talk about" and "what we say about it." Over time, this concept evolved into the modern terms we use today: subject and predicate.

Knowing this background helps students understand that grammar is a system that has developed over centuries, and subject-predicate division is universal across many languages, not just English.

Subject and Predicate in Different Sentence Types

Sentences come in various forms, declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory. Each of these still contains a subject and predicate, though sometimes the subject is implied.

• Declarative sentence:
  The boy runs fast.

  • Subject: The boy

  • Predicate: runs fast

• Interrogative sentence:
  Are you coming to the party?

  • Subject: you

  • Predicate: are coming to the party

• Imperative sentence:
  Sit down quietly.

  • Subject: (You – implied)

  • Predicate: sit down quietly

• Exclamatory sentence:
  What a beautiful day it is!

  • Subject: it

  • Predicate: is a beautiful day

This shows that no matter the type of sentence, the rule of subject and predicate applies.

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Fun Activities to Practice Subject and Predicate

Learning grammar doesn’t have to be boring. Here are a few activities teachers and parents can try with children:

1. Sentence Match Game

   • Write subjects on one set of flashcards and predicates on another. Kids have to match them to make complete sentences.

2. Subject-Predicate Relay

   • Divide the class into two teams. One side writes subjects, the other writes predicates. Together, they form meaningful sentences.

3. Story Building

   • Give children a subject and ask them to expand it into a sentence by adding a predicate. Example: Subject = "The dog" → Sentence = "The dog chased the ball."

4. Error Spotting

   • Provide incomplete or incorrect sentences and ask kids to correct them by adding the missing subject or predicate.

These activities make learning engaging and ensure children remember the concept for a long time.

Subject and Predicate for Kids – Tips to Teach

Teachers and parents can use these strategies:

• Use flashcards with subjects and predicates.

• Create games where kids match subjects with correct predicates.

• Give them daily practice worksheets.

• Use stories and ask children to pick out the subject and predicate.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is subject and predicate with examples?
The subject tells who or what the sentence is about, and the predicate tells what the subject does.

• Example: The cat sleeps. (Subject: The cat, Predicate: sleeps)

2. How do you identify subject and predicate in a sentence?
Find the verb first. Ask who or what is performing the action – that is the subject. The rest is the predicate.

3. Is subject always a noun?
Yes, the subject is usually a noun or pronoun, but sometimes it can also be a noun phrase.

4. Can a predicate be more than one word?
Yes. A predicate can be a single verb or a group of words describing the action.

5. Why are subject and predicate important in grammar?
They are the foundation of every sentence. Without them, a sentence is incomplete.

6. Can a sentence have more than one subject and predicate?
Yes. A sentence can have a compound subject (two or more subjects) and a compound predicate (two or more actions). Example: Ravi and Riya sing and dance.

7. What is the difference between a predicate and an object?
The predicate tells us what the subject does, while the object is the receiver of the action. Example: She reads books. (Predicate = reads books, Object = books).

8. Are subject and predicate used in questions?
Yes. In interrogative sentences, the order of words changes, but the subject and predicate still exist. Example: Did you finish homework? (Subject = you, Predicate = did finish homework).

9. Can the subject be hidden or implied?
Yes. In imperative sentences, the subject is usually implied. Example: Close the door. (Subject = you – implied, Predicate = close the door).

10. How do subject and predicate help in writing better sentences?
They help writers form clear, complete, and grammatically correct sentences. Without a subject and predicate, a sentence is incomplete and confusing.