predicate
The part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is.
The part of a sentence or clause that says something about the subject, typically containing the main verb and any objects, complements, or modifiers.
A condition that is either true or false.
In logic, mathematics, and computing, a property or relation that can be true or false of an object (or objects), often expressed as a function returning a boolean value.
To base one thing on another thing.
To state or treat something as depending on a particular condition, assumption, or basis; to base something on something else.
- Base: predicate
- Plural: predicates
- Base: predicate
- 3rd Person Singular: predicates
- Present Participle: predicating
- Past: predicated
be predicated on/upon
1depend on a condition or basis
To be based on something.
- The entire schedule is predicated on the shipment arriving by Friday.
- The agreement is predicated upon full disclosure of the risks.
- Their forecasts are predicated on stable interest rates.
- The plan is predicated on extra staff.
predicate adjective
1adjective after linking verb
An adjective that describes the subject after “be,” “seem,” etc.
- In “The soup tastes salty,” “salty” is a predicate adjective.
- A predicate adjective comes after a linking verb, not directly before a noun.
- In “He seems nervous,” “nervous” functions as a predicate adjective.
- In “She is happy,” “happy” is a predicate adjective.
predicate logic
1logic with predicates and quantifiers
A kind of formal logic using “all/some” and properties.
- The course introduces proof techniques in predicate logic.
- Predicate logic can represent statements like “All dogs are mammals.”
- Many areas of AI use ideas from predicate logic.
predicate nominative
1noun that renames the subject
A noun after “be” that names the subject again.
- In “Alex is the captain,” “the captain” is a predicate nominative.
- A predicate nominative completes the meaning of a linking verb by identifying the subject.
- In “It was she,” “she” is sometimes analyzed as a predicate nominative in formal grammar.
- In “Sam is a doctor,” “a doctor” is a predicate nominative.
simple predicate
1the main verb alone
The main verb in a sentence.
- In “The children have been playing outside,” the simple predicate is “have been playing.”
- Underline the simple predicate in each sentence.
- The simple predicate usually answers what the subject does or is.
- The simple predicate is the verb.
subject and predicate
1two main parts of a sentence
The two main parts of a sentence: the subject and what is said about it.
- In class we practiced breaking sentences into subject and predicate.
- The worksheet asks you to label the subject and predicate in each example.
- Understanding subject and predicate can help you spot sentence fragments.
- A sentence has a subject and a predicate.