Review: the Predicate

Try to identify the predicate in the following sentences.

1. His terror of spiders kept him out of the dark basement.

Answer

Question:
His terror of spiders kept him out of the dark basement.
Answer:
Kept him out of the dark basement is the predicate because it contains the verb kept and tells us something about the subject his terror of spiders.

2. There will be three concerts in the arts centre tonight.

Answer

Question:
There will be three concerts in the arts centre tonight.
Answer:
There will bein the arts centre tonight is the predicate because it contains the verb will be and tells us something about the subject three concerts.

3. Would you willingly exchange half your chocolate bar for a bag of chips?

Answer

Question:
Would you willingly exchange half your chocolate bar for a bag of chips?
Answer:
Wouldwillingly exchange half your chocolate bar for a bag of chips is the predicate because it contains the verb would exchange and tells us something about the subject you.

4. Despite the storm’s destructiveness, the ship, with its novice crew, might have survived in more experienced hands.

Answer

Question:
Despite the storm’s destructiveness, the ship, with its novice crew, might have survived in more experienced hands.
Answer:
Despite the storm’s destructivenessmight have survived in more experienced hands is the predicate because it contains the verb might have survived and it tells us something about the subject the ship, with its novice crew.

5. After the movie, Emma and her brother bought a birthday present for their mother.

Answer

Question:
After the movie, Emma and her brother bought a birthday present for their mother.
Answer:
After the moviebought a birthday present for their mother is the predicate because it contains the verb bought and tells us something about the subject Emma and her brother.

Copyright notice for HyperGrammar 2

© Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa
A tool made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada

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