Subject And Predicate

The subject is the noun or pronoun that comes before the verb in an ordinary affirmative sentence. The subject often says (in an active sentence) who or what does the action that the verb refers to.

• Hema broke another glass today.
• Oil floats on water.

In a sentence containing more than one clause, each clause has its own subject. A simple example is given below.

• Susie told me that Natalie was ill.

Here Susie is the subject of the main clause, while Natalie is the subject of the complement clause.

Predicate

That part of the sentence that contains the verb and consists of a verb phrase. In the following examples, the bracketed portion is the predicate.

• My sister (is a journalist).
• Sugar (is sweet).
• I (am seldom late for office).

In a question or in another sentence involving fronting, the predicate may be discontinuous, or it may precede the subject.

• (Who are) you (talking to?)
• (Sweet are) the uses of adversity.
• (Never have) I (seen such a mess).
• (Here comes) the bus.