Download Steps to Find the Simple Predicate 1. What is the main action word

Steps to Find the Simple Predicate
1. What is the main action word (verb) in the sentence?
The small, grey, brave mouse had run across the floor past the sneaky cat.
See it? That’s right; the main verb is “run”!
We might be tempted to just circle “run” and call it our simple predicate.
HOWEVER, before we do that, we need to check that there is not another
part of the simple predicate hiding in plain sight…
2. Look for a helping verb. A helping verb gives the main verb a boost and is
usually found right in front of that main verb. Common helping verbs are:
Is-------Was-------Were------Have-------Had-------Must
Is there one of these words in front of the main verb? Correct! We do have the
helping verb “had” before the word run.
3. Put the helping verb and the main verb together to get the simple predicate.
“had”+ “run” = “had run” = simple predicate
Remember, the simple predicate MUST ALWAYS BE A VERB OR VERBS. A verb tells
what the subject does, is, says, or feels.
A simple predicate ABSOLUTELY NEVER has a noun or an adjective in it.
A noun is a person, place, or thing. An adjective is a describing word.
DOUBLE CHECK to make sure that you do not have a noun or an adjective in your
simple predicate before you go on.
 What is the simple predicate?
Margie and Betty have owned their pastry shop since 1990.
Steps to Find the Simple Subject
1. Ask yourself, “Who or what is doing the simple predicate?”
The small, grey, brave mouse had run across the floor past the sneaky cat.
We already found out that the simple predicate is “had run”. Who or what
had run?
Right – it’s the mouse. It’s not the cat because even though the cat is a
noun, the cat is not running and the cat is not what the sentence is really
about.
The simple subject must ALWAYS be a noun (a person, place or thing).
VERBS ARE ABSOLUTELY NEVER part of the simple subject.
2. Keep it simple – Even though we have some words describing the mouse, the
simple subject is just “mouse”. When in doubt, remember the Mr. Morton song
where the singer repeats the simple subject and simple predicate after each line.
“Mr. Morton grew flowers for Pearl.” ………………..“Mr. Morton/grew”
“Mr. Morton wrote Pearl a poem.”……………………..“Mr. Morton/wrote”
“Mr. Morton was a nervous man.”……………………… “Mr. Morton/was”
 What is the simple subject here?
My large, happy, extended family goes to Lake George every summer.
Steps to Find the Complete Subject and Complete Predicate
When finding the complete subject and complete predicate, split the sentence in
two between the simple subject and simple predicate. One half of the sentence
will be the complete subject and the other will be the complete predicate.
In the examples below, the complete subject is bold and the complete predicate
is underlined.
I | remember going to the beach in the summer.
Jessica and all her chatty friends | talked the whole way home in the car.
The pizza place owner | has made the best sausage and meatball pizza in this
town.
 Underline the complete subject of each sentence. Circle the complete
predicate of each sentence.
Alvin and the Three Chipmunks is my favorite cartoon to watch.
Someone in your household must do the laundry as soon as possible.
My cousin told me ghost stories next to the campfire last Halloween.