What is the VERBAL predicate

The predicate It is the most important part of a sentence, since it explains the action or process in which the subject is found. To form sentences, we constantly need to build predicates that fit what we want to express, whether orally or in writing. However, There are two types of predicates and each of them has different characteristics.

In this lesson from a TEACHER, we want to explain to you what is the verbal predicate, in addition to giving you some clear examples so that you can understand this concept well.

Index

1. What is the verbal predicate
2. Complements of the verbal predicate
3. Examples of sentences with a verbal predicate - analyzed
4. More examples of verbal predicate

The predicate is always formed by a verbal phrase, where the verb is the most important word. The core of the predicate is the verb. exist two types of predicate: the nominal predicate and the verbal predicate, but today we are going to focus only on the second.

He verbal predicate It is the one that has as its nucleus a verb different from SER, ESTAR or APPEAR.

For example:The Cook prepared Shrimp Scampi.

The core of the verbal predicate in this case are verbs that express actions or processes and these types of sentences are known as "predicative sentences."

What is the predicate of a sentence?

The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells us about the subject. For example, in the sentence Mary built a model, the predicate is "she built a model", as it explains to us what Mary was doing.

To find the predicate of a sentence, you must ask the subject "what?" Following the same example, if I ask, What did Mary do?, the answer is she "she painted a model", the predicate of the sentence.

The verbal predicate can be formed by only one verb, although the most common thing is that it appears with severalverb complements, which are groups of words that provide extra information about the action. These plugins can be:

• Direct complement: It is the phrase that directly receives the action of the verb. Answers the question what?, or who? For example: I ate an apple (an apple is the direct object).
• Indirect compliment: It indicates to whom or for whom the action of the verb is performed. Answers the question: to whom? or for whom? For example: I gave the book to María (to María is the indirect object).
• Circumstantial Complement: Provides additional information about the verb, such as place, time, manner, cause, etc. It is not essential for prayer. For example: I run quickly (quickly is the circumstantial complement of manner).
• Verbal regime complement: It accompanies certain verbs and requires a specific preposition. For example: I depend on your help (your help is the complement of the verb depend).
• Agent Plugin: It is found in passive constructions and indicates who performs the action of the verb. For example: The book was written by the author (by the author is the agent complement).
• Predictive Complement: Expands or qualifies the verb and agrees in gender and number with the subject. For example: The children left tired (tired is the predicative complement).

Let's put un couple of examples of verbal predicate, which are part of a predicative sentence.

The concert thrilled the spectators.

• The concert: It is the noun phrase (SN) that acts as the subject.
• It thrilled the viewers: It is a verbal phrase (SV) that acts as a verbal predicate, since its main verb is not a copulative verb: BE, BE, or APPEAR. The core of this predicate is "excited"
• To the spectators: Complement of the verb.

The little girl sleeps in her crib.

• The little girl: it is the noun phrase that functions as a subject
• He sleeps in his crib: It is a verbal phrase that has the function of a verbal predicate and its nucleus is the verb "sleep."
• In his bed: It is the complement of the verb.

If you have already read the theory carefully and understood everything we have explained to you, the time has come to see how all these concepts are put into practice. We leave you with some examples of sentences with verbal predicate, so you can see how it works within its context. We have marked the predicate in bold, so that it is easier for you to identify it:

• Clothes still wet
• The cat she jumped from the tree.
• My mom and I We will go to the market.
• Children they play in the garden.
• The students They will go on an excursion to the nature reserve.
• These stories They were written by Jorge Luis Borges.
• The remote control works bad.
• My mother lives in Rome.
• Children They have a sleepover.
• Ramiro he is hungry.
• Window It was open all night.
• Hope She learned to play the violin as a child.
• Music It rang until the wee hours of the morning.
• Lucia and me We will go buy ice cream.
• My father He prepared a delicious barbecue.
• My secretary works very well.
• The recital It lasted until dawn.
• The watch It was very expensive.
• My parents They went out to have coffee.
• Damian He has a shoe store.
• The Geography teacher He handed in the exams.
• Raul he studies japanese.
• The Second World War It lasted until 1945.
• John Lennon He was murdered in 1980.
• Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in 2016.
• I I will fix the motorcycle.
• Gabriel Garcia Marquez He wrote exquisite chronicles.
• Food she tastes delicious.
• India It has more than 1.3 billion inhabitants.
• NY It has multiple attractions.
• Esteban He read Seda, by Alejandro Baricco.
• The phone it rang all night.
• The Canary She escaped from her cage.
• Flashlight illuminates very little.
• My grandmother She prepared a fruit cake.
• The turntable works wonders.
• The deputies They passed the law at dawn.
• With my family We are going camping next week.
• My cousin She will study medicine next year.
• Joan She read all afternoon.
• Children they are sleepy.
• My mother He travels a lot for work.

We hope this lesson has helped you understand a little better. What is the verbal predicate and how does it work? when we put it into practice, within a sentence. If you want to continue delving deeper into this topic, or something similar, do not hesitate to consult our grammar and linguistics section.

If you want to read more articles similar to Verbal predicate - examples, we recommend that you enter our category of Grammar and Linguistics.

• Aldaz, J. TO. (1999). Deus concionator: predicated world and rhetoric of the exemplum in the Golden Ages (Vol. 5). Rodopi.
• Marin, R. (2011). Almost all psychological predicates are stative. On states and stativity, 46, 26-44.