Subject and Predicate

Every sentence has two main parts: the subject and the predicate. The subject tells who or what the sentence is about. The predicate tells what the subject does or is. Together, they make a complete thought. Understanding subjects and predicates helps you write better sentences.

Finding the Subject

The subject is usually a noun or pronoun at the beginning of the sentence. In the sentence the dog barked loudly, the subject is the dog. To find the subject, ask who or what is doing something. Sometimes the subject is one word, and sometimes it is a group of words.

Finding the Predicate

The predicate includes the verb and everything that comes after it. In the sentence the dog barked loudly, the predicate is barked loudly. The predicate tells what the subject does, did, or will do. Every complete sentence must have both a subject and a predicate.

Fun Facts

• The shortest complete sentence in English is I am, with I as the subject and am as the predicate.
• In some languages, like Spanish, the subject can be hidden inside the verb.
• The subject does not always come first. In questions like are you ready, the subject you comes after the verb.

Did You Know?

In the command sentence sit down, the subject is the hidden word you, even though it is not written or spoken.