What Is a Complete Predicate

Overview

In English grammar, a complete predicate is the part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said about the subject. It includes the verb and all the words that modify or complement the verb, such as objects, complements, and adverbial modifiers. The complete predicate provides the full information about the action, state, or occurrence related to the subject, thereby forming a necessary component of sentence structure.

Detailed Explanation

A sentence in English typically consists of two main parts: the subject and the predicate. The subject represents who or what the sentence is about, while the predicate conveys information about the subject. The predicate can be divided into two types: the simple predicate and the complete predicate. The simple predicate is just the main verb or verb phrase, whereas the complete predicate encompasses the verb along with all the accompanying words that complete its meaning.

The complete predicate can include direct and indirect objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, and adverbial phrases or clauses. These elements serve to clarify the action or state described by the verb, specify to whom or what the action happens, or provide additional details such as time, place, manner, or reason.

How It Works

When analyzing a sentence to identify the complete predicate, one starts by locating the verb or verb phrase that expresses the action or state. Then, all the words that modify or complete the meaning of this verb are included as part of the complete predicate. This typically involves identifying objects (what or whom the verb affects), complements (words that complete the meaning of the verb), and modifiers (words or phrases that provide context).

For example, in the sentence “The cat sat on the warm windowsill all afternoon,” the complete predicate is “sat on the warm windowsill all afternoon,” as it contains the verb “sat” and all the words that describe where and for how long the action took place.

Examples

• Sentence: The children played soccer in the park.
  Complete Predicate: played soccer in the park.
• Sentence: She has finished her homework ahead of schedule.
  Complete Predicate: has finished her homework ahead of schedule.
• Sentence: The dog barked loudly at the mailman.
  Complete Predicate: barked loudly at the mailman.
• Sentence: They will be arriving at the airport tomorrow morning.
  Complete Predicate: will be arriving at the airport tomorrow morning.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Helps provide a full understanding of the action or state described in a sentence.
• Essential for sentence parsing and grammatical analysis.
• Clarifies the relationship between the verb and its complements or modifiers.

Cons:

• Can be complex to identify in lengthy or compound sentences.
• Sometimes confused with the simple predicate, leading to misunderstandings in grammar studies.

Comparison Table

Decision Checklist

• Use this if you want to understand the full predicate structure in a sentence.
• Avoid this if you only need to identify the main verb or verb phrase.
• Check this first when analyzing sentence components or parsing sentences grammatically.

What is the easiest way to understand a Complete Predicate?

The easiest way to understand a complete predicate is to first identify the verb in a sentence and then include all the words that describe or complement the verb’s action or state. Think of the complete predicate as everything in the sentence that tells what the subject does or what happens to the subject beyond just the verb itself.