Because a phrase has neither subject nor verb, it can't form a 'predicate'. This is a structure that must contain a verb, and it tells you something about what the subject is doing. ... Phrases can't be used alone, but you can use them as part of a sentence, where they are used as parts of speech.

Do phrases have predicates?

Predicates can be one verb or verb phrase (simple predicate), two or more verbs joined with a conjunction (compound predicate), or even all the words in the sentence that give more information about the subject (complete predicate). To find the predicate, simply look for what the subject is doing.

Can phrases have subjects?

A phrase does not contain a subject and verb and, consequently, cannot convey a complete thought. A phrase contrasts with a clause. A clause does contain a subject and verb, and it can convey a complete idea.

Is predicate and phrases the same?

The term Predicate can be used in different ways. But when we talk about syntax/grammar the term Predicate describes a particular job in the sentence. The term verb phrase tells us that a phrase is headed by a verb. The Predicate in a sentence is that part of the sentence that (usually) comes after the Subject.

What is an example of a phrase?

A phrase is a group of two or more words that work together but don't form a clause. ... For example, “buttery popcorn” is a phrase, but “I eat buttery popcorn” is a clause. Because it isn't a clause, a phrase is never a full sentence on its own.

Subjects and Predicates | Subject and Predicate | Complete Sentences | Award Winning Teaching Video

40 related questions found

What are phrases in grammar?

In English grammar, a phrase is a group of two or more words functioning as a meaningful unit within a sentence or clause. A phrase is commonly characterized as a grammatical unit at a level between a word and a clause.

How do you use phrases?

A phrase is a group of words that express a concept and is used as a unit within a sentence.
...
Verb Phrases

1. He was waiting for the rain to stop.
2. She was upset when it didn't boil.
3. You have been sleeping for a long time.
4. You might enjoy a massage.
5. He was eager to eat dinner.

What is the predicate of a sentence example?

A predicate is the part of a sentence, or a clause, that tells what the subject is doing or what the subject is. Let's take the same sentence from before: “The cat is sleeping in the sun.” The clause sleeping in the sun is the predicate; it's dictating what the cat is doing. Cute!

Are predicates always verb phrases?

The predicate of a sentence describes either what the subject is doing or the state of the subject. The predicate must always contain a verb, but it can also include objects, either direct or indirect, and different types of modifiers, such as adverbs, prepositional phrases, or objects.

What is clause and phrase?

Both phrases and clauses contain groups of two or more words and help us to make sentences, but they both have different roles. ... A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. A phrase is a group of words, but it doesn't contain a subject and a verb.

Can a phrase stand alone?

3. Phrases Not Constituting a Sentence. A phrase is different from a dependent clause because unlike the dependent clause it generally lacks a subject. However, like a dependent clause, it can not stand alone and is dependent on a clause being added.

Can a phrase be a subject in a sentence?

The subject may be a noun phrase — that is, a word group made up of a head noun and any modifiers, determiners (such as the, a, her), and/or complements.

What makes something a phrase?

What are Phrases? Phrases are a combination of two or more words that can take the role of a noun, a verb, or a modifier in a sentence. Phrases are different from clauses because while dependent and independent clauses both contain a subject and a verb, phrases do not.

What is subject phrase?

Traditionally the subject is the word or phrase which controls the verb in the clause, that is to say with which the verb agrees (John is but John and Mary are). ... seems to imply that the subject is the adverb there, also create difficulties for the definition of subject.

Are sentences declarative?

In English grammar, a declarative sentence is a sentence that makes a statement, provides a fact, offers an explanation, or conveys information. These types of sentences are also known as declarative statements. A declarative sentence is the most common type of sentence in the English language.

Does predicate come before subject?

Word Order: Most of the time, the subject comes before the predicate. However, sometimes the subject can come after part of the predicate. ... The subject can also come after part of the predicate if a sentence begins with the word here or there (here and there are never used as subjects).

What is a predicate and subject?

Every complete sentence contains two parts: a subject and a predicate. ... The subject is what (or whom) the sentence is about, while the predicate tells something about the subject.

Does a phrase have a verb?

Phrases: A phrase is a group of words that does not have a subject and verb. A phrase cannot therefore be a complete idea or a complete sentence by itself. Several types of phrases are used in English.

What are 5 examples of phrases?

5 Examples of Phrases

• Noun Phrase; Friday became a cool, wet afternoon.
• Verb Phrase; Mary might have been waiting outside for you..
• Gerund Phrase; Eating ice cream on a hot day can be a good way to cool off.
• Infinitive Phrase; She helped to build the roof.
• Prepositional Phrase; In the kitchen, you will find my mom.

What are some examples of subject and predicate?

Answers

• The sun (subject) / was shining brightly (predicate).
• The dogs (subject) / were barking loudly (predicate).
• The pretty girl (subject) / was wearing a blue frock (predicate).
• My younger brother (subject) / serves in the army (predicate).
• The man and his wife (subject) / were working in their garden (predicate).

What is subject in a sentence?

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that is performing the action of the sentence. The subject represents what or whom the sentence is about. The simple subject usually contains a noun or pronoun and can include modifying words, phrases, or clauses.

How do you identify a phrase?

A phrase is a group of words that form a single unit in a sentence, but do not include a subject, or a verb, or both. Since a phrase does not have a subject and/or verb, it does not form a complete idea or thought.