Total Apex University Logo

Understanding the Predicate of a Sentence

1. What Is the Predicate of a Sentence?

The predicate is the part of a sentence that tells what the subject does, is, or experiences.

It always contains a verb (or verb phrase) and may include:

  • Objects
  • Complements
  • Modifiers
  • Prepositional phrases
  • Adverbs

Basic Formula

Subject + Predicate

Examples

  • The player scored the winning goal.
  • The update launched today.
  • The fans were excited.
  • The article went viral overnight.

The predicate is everything after the subject.

2. What the Predicate Does

The predicate is the action engine of the sentence. It tells readers:

A. What the subject does

The team celebrated.

B. What the subject is

The movie was incredible.

C. What happens to the subject

The app crashed suddenly.

D. What the subject has

The player has three awards.

E. How the subject behaves

The crowd reacted instantly.

Without a predicate, a sentence cannot exist.

3. Types of Predicates

There are three main types your contributors should know.

A. Simple Predicate

The main verb or verb phrase only.

Examples

  • The team won.
  • The app crashed.
  • The fans were cheering.

This is the core action.

B. Complete Predicate

The verb plus all the words that modify or complete its meaning.

Examples

  • The team won the championship last night.
  • The app crashed during the update.
  • The fans were cheering loudly in the stadium.

Everything except the subject = complete predicate.

C. Compound Predicate

One subject performing two or more actions.

Examples

  • The player scored and celebrated.
  • The company released the update and addressed the issues.
  • The fans reacted and shared the clip online.

Compound predicates keep writing concise and avoid repetitive subjects.

4. Components Inside a Predicate

Predicates can include several elements that add clarity and detail.

A. Direct Objects

Receive the action

The player scored a goal.

B. Indirect Objects

Receive the direct object

The coach gave the team a speech.

C. Predicate Adjectives

Describe the subject

The movie was amazing.

D. Predicate Nouns

Rename the subject

The player is a legend.

E. Adverbs

Modify the verb

The team won easily.

F. Prepositional Phrases

Add detail

The update launched in the morning.

5. Why Predicates Matter in Article Writing

Predicates are essential for clarity, SEO, and professional tone.

A. They Deliver the Action

Readers care about what happened — the predicate tells them.

B. They Improve SEO

Google rewards:

  • Clear verbs
  • Strong actions
  • Clean sentence structure

Weak:

The article is about a new trend.  

Strong:

The article explores a new trend.

C. They Control Pacing

Short predicates = fast, punchy writing

Long predicates = detailed, informative writing

D. They Add Depth

Predicates allow writers to add:

  • Context
  • Time
  • Place
  • Manner
  • Cause

E. They Reduce Ambiguity

A strong predicate makes the meaning unmistakable.

6. Examples in Real Article Writing

Before (Weak)

The update was a problem.

After (Strong)

The update caused widespread issues for users.

Another Example

Before:  

The player was good.

After:  

The player delivered an impressive performance.

One More Example

Before:  

The movie was popular.

After:  

The movie went viral after early reviews praised its story.

The predicate transforms the sentence from vague to vivid.

7. Final Takeaway for Total Apex Writers

The predicate is the heart of every sentence.

It tells readers:

  • What happened
  • How it happened
  • Why it matters

Mastering predicates helps writers:

  • Improve clarity
  • Strengthen SEO
  • Increase engagement
  • Deliver professional, newsroom‑ready content
  • Build clean, powerful sentences across all verticals

Predicates are where the action lives — and great writing depends on great action.