English Syntax

THE PREDICATE

The Predicate
In traditional grammar, a predicate is one of
the two main parts of a sentence (the other
being the subject, which the predicate
modifies). The predicate provides information
about the subject, such as what the subject is
doing or what the subject is like.

The Predicate
There are two types of predicates :
the verbal predicate( VP), which is a verb of
complete predication
the nominal predicate (NP), which consists
of a link verb or copula + subject
complement or predicative. Link verbs are
verbs of incomplete predication that need a
subject complement to complete their
meaning.

The Predicate
LINK VERBS :
the verb TO BE
verbs of seeming : TO SEEM
TO APPEAR
TO LOOK
e.g.He appears upset.( NP appears = link
verb, upset =SC)
They seem happy. ( NP seem = link verb,
happy = SC)

The Predicate

3.Verbs of process: TO BECOME

TO GROW
TO GET
TO TURN
TO GO
TO RUN
TO FALL
TO COME
e.g. He became fat. ( NP became = link verb, fat = SC)
His hair turned grey ( NP turned = link verb, grey = SC)
The engine went dead. ( NP went= link verb dead = SC)

The Predicate

verbs of continuation : TO REMAIN

TO KEEP
TO STAY
e.g. They remained friends all their lives. ( NP remained =link
verb, friends = SC)
Keep silent! ( NP keep =link verb, silent = SC)

verbs of perception : TO TASTE

TO SMELL
TO SOUND
TO FEEL
e.g. It sounds fine.(NP sound = link verb, fine = SC)
The meal tastes excellent.( NP tastes = link verb, excellent
= SC)

The Predicate
NOTE : Link verbs may become verbs of full
predication, depending on the context.
e.g. Roses smell sweet.( NP smell = link
verb, sweet = SC, it refers to the roses)
She smells the roses.( VP smells, the
roses is the direct object (DO)

The Predicate
NOTE: Do not mix up a nominal predicate with
a verbal predicate in the Passive voice or in
the Past Tense Continous.
e.g. They were happy. (NP were = link
verb, happy = SC)
They were sleeping. (VPPast Tense
Continuous)
They were punished for their mistake.
(VP Passive Voice)

The Predicate
The subject complement may be expressed by:
a noun
e.g. He became a pilot.
an adjective
e.g. She looks pale.
NOTE : The following adjectives an be used only
predicatively : ashamed, alone, apart, ajar, asleep,
afraid, aware, fond, glad, ill, sorry.
e.g. The door is ajar. The baby is asleep.
The asleep baby is.
( denotes a grammatically incorrect sentence)

The Predicate

pronouns
e.g. The book is mine.
numerals
e.g. They were five.
adverbers
e.g. The show is over.
prepositional phrase
e.g. They are in
good health.
non-finite verb forms
e.g. To know is to
learn.

The Predicate
II. Identify the type of predication in the following text:

He grew more and more restless. Miriam did not satisfy

him. His old, mad desire to be with her became weaker.
Sometimes he met Clara in Nottingham , sometimes he
went to meetings with her, sometimes he saw her at
Willey Farm. But on these last occasions, the situation
became strained. There was a triangle of antagonism
between Paul and Clara and Miriam. With Clara he took
on a smart, wordly, mocking tone. It did not matter what
went wrong. She might be intimate and sad with him.
Then, as soon as Clara appeared, it all vanished.
D.H.Lawrence Sons and Lovers