Every sentence has two main parts: the complete subject and the complete predicate. The complete subject tells who or what the sentence is about. The complete predicate tells what the subject does or is.
The complete subject includes all the words that tell who or what the sentence is about, while the complete predicate includes all the words that tell about the action or state of being.
To find the complete subject, ask yourself: Who or what is the sentence about? Look for the main noun or pronoun and all the words that describe it.
The complete subject can include adjectives, articles, and phrases that give more detail about the main noun.
To find the complete predicate, ask: What is the subject doing? or What is happening to the subject? It begins with the verb and includes all the words that describe the action or condition.
The complete predicate always contains the verb. It may also include adverbs, objects, and prepositional phrases.
When you put the complete subject and complete predicate together, you form a full sentence that expresses a complete thought.
Every complete sentence must have both a complete subject and a complete predicate. Without one, it is not a full sentence.
Understanding complete subjects and complete predicates helps you write clear and complete sentences. It also improves your reading comprehension by showing you how ideas are organized in sentences.
Knowing how to identify subjects and predicates will help you avoid sentence fragments and write with confidence.