predicate — The part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said about the subject (in grammar)
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: The part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said about the subject (in grammar)
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈprɛdɪkət/ (n./adj.), /ˈprɛdɪkeɪt/ (v.)
Example Sentences
- The teacher asked students to underline the predicate in each sentence, and one kid underlined the entire sentence.
- His entire career was predicated on one lucky break he never talks about.
- Identifying the subject and predicate is a basic skill tested in the civil service exam.
predicate
NOUN[/ˈprɛdɪkət/ (n./adj.), /ˈprɛdɪkeɪt/ (v.)]
The part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said about the subject (in grammar)
Lawyers predicate their entire case on one witness's testimony.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin 'praedicare', a compound of 'prae-' (before, forth) and 'dicare' (to declare, proclaim). Originally meaning 'to proclaim publicly', it evolved in grammar to denote the part of a sentence that declares or explains something about the subject, and as a verb means 'to assert or affirm based on grounds'.
Breakdown
prae- (before, forth) + dicare (to declare, proclaim) = praedicare (to proclaim publicly). The term specialized in grammar to mean the portion of a sentence asserting something about the subject.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The teacher asked students to underline the predicate in each sentence, and one kid underlined the entire sentence.”
“His entire career was predicated on one lucky break he never talks about.”
“Identifying the subject and predicate is a basic skill tested in the civil service exam.”
“The prosecutor's case was predicated on circumstantial evidence alone.”
“My decision to skip breakfast is predicated on the fact that I woke up five minutes before work.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.