Simple Subject

• Definition: The simple subject is the main word (or words) in the complete subject that tells who or what the sentence is about. It is typically a noun or pronoun.
• Example:
  • In the sentence “The tall tree in the park fell during the storm,” the simple subject is “tree.”
• Characteristics:
  • The simple subject does not include any modifiers (adjectives, articles, etc.) that describe it.
  • It is the core of the sentence’s subject.
  • It is usually one word, but it can be a compound noun (e.g., “My friend and I went to the store”).

Simple Predicate

• Definition: The simple predicate is the main verb (or verb phrase) in the complete predicate that tells what the subject does or what is done to the subject.
• Example:
  • In the sentence “The tall tree in the park fell during the storm,” the simple predicate is “fell.”
• Characteristics:
  • The simple predicate focuses only on the verb or verb phrase without any additional words that modify it.
  • It can be just one word (e.g., “run”) or a verb phrase (e.g., “has been running”).
  • It tells what the subject is doing or what action is being performed.

Tips for Identification

1. Finding the Simple Subject:
   • Start by identifying the complete subject, then locate the main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about.
   • Ignore any adjectives, articles, or additional descriptors.
2. Finding the Simple Predicate:
   • Identify the complete predicate, then find the main verb or verb phrase that indicates the action or state of being.
   • Remove any adverbs or additional phrases that modify the verb to focus on the core action.
3. Practice with Different Sentences:
   • Simple sentences are easier to analyze (e.g., “The dog barks”). The simple subject is “dog,” and the simple predicate is “barks.”
   • Complex sentences may have more than one subject or predicate, but focus on the core noun and verb in each clause.
4. Compound Subjects and Predicates:
   • If the sentence has two or more subjects joined by “and” or “or,” these form a compound subject (e.g., “John and Mary”).
   • If there are two or more verbs or verb phrases, it forms a compound predicate (e.g., “ran and jumped”).

Let’s practice!