Learn to identify subjects and predicates in sentences. Master complete and simple subjects/predicates, and analyze sentence structure for better writing.
✅ Recommended for: Class 8-9 (Foundation) | Class 10-12 (Advanced Analysis)
1. What are Subject and Predicate?
Every complete sentence has two essential parts:
1. Subject: Who or what the sentence is about
2. Predicate: What is said about the subject (action or state)
Formula: Subject + Predicate = Complete Sentence
| Part | Definition | What It Answers | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | The person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action or is described | Who or what is doing something? Who or what is being described? |
Rahul, The cat, Beautiful flowers, Honesty |
| Predicate | The part that tells something about the subject (action, state, description) | What is the subject doing? What is happening to the subject? What is the subject like? |
plays cricket, is sleeping, were delicious, seems happy |
| Complete Subject | Subject + all its modifiers | All words that tell who/what the sentence is about | The tall boy with glasses My old red bicycle |
| Complete Predicate | Verb + all its modifiers, objects, complements | All words that tell something about the subject | ran quickly to the store gave me a beautiful gift yesterday |
| Simple Subject | Main noun/pronoun only (no modifiers) | The core who/what | boy, bicycle |
| Simple Predicate | Main verb only (no modifiers) | The core action/state | ran, gave |
2. How to Find the Subject
| Sentence Type | Subject Position | How to Find | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Order | Before the verb | Ask "Who/What + verb?" | The dog barked loudly. Who barked? The dog → Subject |
| Questions | After helping verb or between helping-main verbs | Turn question into statement first | Is she coming? → She is coming. Subject: She |
| Commands | Hidden/Understood (you) | Subject is always "you" | Close the door. → (You) close the door. Subject: You |
| Here/There Sentences | After verb | Here/There are NOT subjects | Here comes the bus. What comes? The bus → Subject |
| Passive Voice | After "by" or at end | Doer of action comes after "by" | The letter was written by me. Doer/Subject: I |
| Inverted Order | After verb | Look for verb first, then ask who/what | On the wall hung a picture. What hung? A picture → Subject |
3. Types of Subjects
| Subject Type | Structure | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Subject | Single noun/pronoun | Birds fly. She sings. Honesty is the best policy. |
One-word subject |
| Compound Subject | Two or more subjects joined by conjunction | Rahul and Priya are studying. Either he or I will go. Books, pens, and papers were scattered. |
Multiple subjects, plural verb usually |
| Complete Subject | Simple subject + all modifiers | The little boy with curly hair laughed. My new red bicycle is fast. |
Includes adjectives, phrases |
| Implied Subject | Not stated but understood | (You) Please sit down. (You) Turn left at the signal. |
Imperative sentences only |
| Gerund Subject | -ing form as subject | Swimming is good exercise. Learning English takes time. |
Verb form acting as noun |
| Infinitive Subject | To + verb as subject | To err is human. To travel is to live. |
Formal style |
| Clause as Subject | Noun clause as subject | What he said surprised everyone. That she passed is great news. |
Whole clause acts as subject |
4. Types of Predicates
| Predicate Type | Structure | Examples | Components |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Predicate | Main verb only | The sun rises. Children play. She sings. |
Just the verb |
| Complete Predicate | Verb + all modifiers, objects, etc. | The sun rises in the east. Children play in the park. She sings beautifully. |
Verb + everything else |
| Compound Predicate | Two or more verbs for same subject | She sang and danced. He ate breakfast, dressed quickly, and ran to school. |
Multiple actions by same subject |
| Predicate with Direct Object | Verb + receiver of action | She wrote a letter. He bought a car. They built a house. |
Subject → Verb → What? |
| Predicate with Indirect Object | Verb + to/for whom + what | She gave me a gift. He told us a story. I bought her flowers. |
Subject → Verb → Whom? → What? |
| Predicate with Complement | Linking verb + subject complement | She is a doctor. He seems tired. The food smells delicious. |
Describes/renames subject |
5. Sentence Analysis - Breaking Down Sentences
| Sentence | Complete Subject | Simple Subject | Complete Predicate | Simple Predicate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The little girl with blue eyes | The little girl with blue eyes | girl | is singing a beautiful song | is singing |
| My elder brother and his friend | My elder brother and his friend | brother, friend | are going to the market | are going |
| All the students in our class | All the students in our class | students | have completed their homework | have completed |
| The book that I borrowed | The book that I borrowed | book | is very interesting | is |
| Running in the morning | Running in the morning | Running | keeps you healthy | keeps |
6. Common Errors & Confusions
| Error Type | Incorrect | Correct | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement | The list of items are long. | The list of items is long. | Subject is 'list' (singular), not 'items' |
| Compound Subject Agreement | Bread and butter are my breakfast. | Bread and butter is my breakfast. | Single dish treated as singular |
| Here/There Confusion | Here is the books. | Here are the books. | Verb agrees with real subject after here/there |
| Intervening Phrases | The box of chocolates are empty. | The box of chocolates is empty. | Ignore prepositional phrases when finding subject |
| Either/Or Agreement | Either he or they is coming. | Either he or they are coming. | Verb agrees with nearer subject |
🎯 Subject-Predicate Challenge
Identify the simple subject and simple predicate in each sentence.
1. The old man with a walking stick slowly crossed the road.
Complete Subject: The old man with a walking stick
Complete Predicate: slowly crossed the road
2. Are you coming to the party tonight?
Statement form: You are coming to the party tonight.
3. Please close the door quietly.
Imperative: Subject 'you' is understood but not stated.
4. There are many books on the shelf.
'There' is not the subject. Ask: What are? Books are.
5. Swimming and cycling are my favorite sports.
Compound subject (two gerunds) with plural verb.
8. Quick Identification Tricks
Finding the Subject:
1. Ask "Who or What + Verb?" The answer is the subject.
2. For questions: Turn into statement first.
3. For commands: Subject is always "you" (understood).
4. For here/there sentences: Subject comes after verb.
5. Ignore prepositional phrases: The color of the cars → subject is 'color', not 'cars'
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules:
• Singular subject → singular verb (The boy plays)
• Plural subject → plural verb (The boys play)
• Compound subjects with "and" → usually plural (Rahul and Priya are)
• Compound subjects with "or/nor" → verb agrees with nearer subject (Either he or they are)
• Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on meaning (The team is vs The team are)
📝 Practice Subject & Predicate
Master sentence analysis with our comprehensive worksheet!
Go to Subject-Predicate WorksheetIncludes answer key • Identification • Simple/Complete • Sentence analysis • Error correction
