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Predicate Meaning: Definition and Examples

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predicate

[ˈprɛdɪkət ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

linguistics

A word or phrase that expresses an action, condition, or state of being.

Synonyms

action word, verb phrase.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
predicate

Used in grammar or logic when referring to the part of a sentence or statement that modifies the subject and includes the verb and its complements.

  • In the sentence 'She sings beautifully,' 'sings beautifully' is the predicate.
  • Philosophers often discuss the role of the predicate in logical arguments.
verb phrase

Used in grammar to describe a combination of a verb and its direct or indirect objects, or complements.

  • In the sentence 'She will be running,' 'will be running' is the verb phrase.
  • Understanding verb phrases is essential for learning complex sentence structures.
action word

Commonly used in elementary education to refer to a verb, emphasizing its function as describing an action.

  • Run, jump, and dance are examples of action words.
  • Teachers often ask young students to identify the action words in a sentence.

Examples of usage

  • In the sentence 'She is reading a book,' the word 'is reading' is a predicate.
  • Predicates can be simple or complex, depending on the number of verbs and their relationship to the subject.
Context #2 | Adjective

logic

Relating to or denoting a word, clause, or sentence that expresses an assertion, command, question, or exclamation.

Synonyms

assertive, declarative.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
predicate

Used in grammar and logic to describe the part of a sentence that states something about the subject. In logic, it refers to a function or relationship that a subject can fulfill or take part in.

  • In the sentence 'She dances beautifully,' 'dances beautifully' is the predicate.
  • In the logical expression 'P(x)',' P' is a predicate that can apply to some variable 'x'.
assertive

Used to describe a forceful and confident way of expressing opinions or desires. It often has a positive connotation, implying confidence and clarity without being aggressive.

  • He was very assertive during the meeting, making sure his ideas were heard.
  • An assertive response is needed when someone violates your boundaries.
declarative

Typically used to describe a statement that provides information or declares something as a fact. In grammar, a declarative sentence is one that makes a statement, as opposed to asking a question or giving a command.

  • 'The sky is blue' is a declarative sentence.
  • Her tone was declarative, leaving no room for doubt about her decision.

Examples of usage

  • The predicate element of a sentence can be either the subject or the object.
  • In logic, a predicate is a statement that may be true or false, depending on the values of its variables.

Interesting Facts

Grammar

  • In English, a simple sentence contains a subject and a predicate, such as 'The dog barks'.
  • A compound predicate can share the same subject but describe different actions, like 'She danced and sang'.
  • The predicate often contains the verb and other modifiers, giving more context to the action or state of being.

Logic

  • A predicate is crucial in logical statements, where it describes properties or relations, like 'x is greater than 5'.
  • In predicate logic, statements are expressed using predicates and quantifiers, allowing for more expressive arguments compared to propositional logic.
  • Predicates can be universal or existential, impacting how we interpret statements about groups versus individual instances.

Philosophy

  • In philosophy, predicates help clarify arguments by providing essential information about the subject's qualities.
  • Predicates play a significant role in discussions about truth and meaning, as they can affect the interpretation of statements.
  • The study of predicates leads to important insights about how language structures our understanding of reality.

Education

  • Understanding predicates is foundational in learning grammar, allowing students to construct clear and effective sentences.
  • Educational resources often focus on subjects and predicates to enhance writing skills in both creative and academic contexts.
  • Games and activities centered around identifying predicates can make learning grammar enjoyable and interactive.

Origin of 'predicate'

Main points about word origin

  • Originates from the Latin word 'praedicare', which means 'to proclaim or assert'.
  • The term has been used in grammar since the 16th century, establishing its role in sentence structure.
  • In logic, it refers to what is said about the subject in a proposition, emphasizing its foundational role in reasoning.

The word 'predicate' originated from the Latin word 'praedicāre,' which means 'proclaim.' It entered the English language in the 16th century through the field of logic and grammar. Over time, its usage expanded to include various linguistic and logical contexts, becoming an essential term in these disciplines.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #9,773 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.