What is a Complete Predicate?

S2-SA1-0386

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

The complete predicate is the part of a sentence that tells us everything about what the subject is doing or what is being said about the subject. It includes the main verb and all the words that describe the verb or complete its meaning.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your friend, Rohan, is eating a yummy samosa very quickly. The part that tells us what Rohan is doing is 'is eating a yummy samosa very quickly'. This whole part is the complete predicate.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the complete predicate in the sentence: 'The auto-rickshaw driver honked loudly at the cow.'

1. First, find the subject. Who or what is the sentence about? The sentence is about 'The auto-rickshaw driver'. This is our subject.
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2. Now, find the main verb. What action is the subject doing? The driver 'honked'.
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3. Identify all the words that tell us more about the verb 'honked'. How did he honk? 'loudly'. At whom did he honk? 'at the cow'.
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4. Combine the main verb and all these descriptive words. So, 'honked loudly at the cow' is the complete predicate.
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ANSWER: The complete predicate is 'honked loudly at the cow'.

Why It Matters

Understanding complete predicates helps you write clear and meaningful sentences, which is super important for storytelling, news reporting, and even coding. It's key for journalists to write clear headlines and for lawyers to draft precise legal documents.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking the complete predicate is just the verb. | CORRECTION: Remember, the complete predicate includes the verb AND all the words that describe the action or complete the thought.

MISTAKE: Including the subject in the complete predicate. | CORRECTION: The subject and complete predicate are two separate parts. The complete predicate tells us about the subject, but doesn't include it.

MISTAKE: Not including all the describing words after the verb. | CORRECTION: Make sure to include all adjectives, adverbs, and phrases that belong to the verb's action or state.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Find the complete predicate: 'My mother cooked delicious biryani for dinner.' | ANSWER: cooked delicious biryani for dinner

QUESTION: Identify the complete predicate: 'The children played cricket happily in the park after school.' | ANSWER: played cricket happily in the park after school

QUESTION: What is the complete predicate in the sentence: 'During the festive season, the shopkeepers decorated their stores with colourful lights and flowers.' | ANSWER: decorated their stores with colourful lights and flowers

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following is the complete predicate in the sentence: 'The delivery boy quickly brought my package to my doorstep.'

The delivery boy

quickly brought my package

quickly brought my package to my doorstep

my package

The Correct Answer Is:

Option C includes the verb 'brought' and all the words that tell us how, what, and where the package was brought. Options A and D are parts of the subject or object, not the complete predicate. Option B is incomplete.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you read news headlines or social media posts about, say, a new movie release or a cricket match, understanding complete predicates helps you quickly grasp the main action. For example, 'India won the match by 5 wickets' clearly states the complete action of 'India'.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

PREDICATE: The part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or what is said about the subject. | SUBJECT: The person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. | VERB: A word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. | PHRASE: A small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit.

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job learning about complete predicates! Next, you can explore 'What is a Complete Subject?' and 'What is a Simple Predicate?'. Understanding these will help you build even stronger sentences and communicate more effectively.