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Predicate: meaning, definitions 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

Etymology

  • 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.

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.

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.