S ubje cts a nd

P re dica te s
A Gra mma r Le s s on for
Fourth Gra de

Cre a te d by Te re s a Wils on – De s e rt P a lms - J uly 2010

 Eve ry s e nte nce is ma de up of
two pa rts .
• The s ubje ct na me s the pe rs on , pla ce ,
or thing the s e nte nce is a bout (the WHO
or WHAT.)
• The pre dica te te lls wha t the s ubje ct is
or doe s (the ACTION.)
 The S ubje ct
• The c o mple te s ubje c t include s a ll the words tha t
ide ntify the pe rs on or thing the s e nte nce is a bout.

My Aunt Mary ha s a ca t.
The little old man wa lke d with a ca ne .

• The s imple s ubje c t is the ma in noun or pronoun .

The boy with the blue s hirt wa ve d to me .

Jack love s to pla y s occe r.
 The P re dica te
• The c o mple te pre dic ate include s a ll
words tha t te ll wha t the s ubje ct of the
s e nte nce is or doe s .
Tim took three marbles from
the pile.
• The s imple pre dic ate is the
ma in ve rb or ve rb phra s e .
 Le t’s Re vie w
• S ha re with your s houlde r pa rtne r the
diffe re nce be twe e n a c o mple te s ubje c t
a nd a s imple s ubje c t.
AA quick
quick coyote
coyote ca ught a liza rd .
• S ha re with your s houlde r pa rtne r the
diffe re nce be twe e n a c o mple te pre dic ate
a nd a s imple pre dic ate .
A quick coyote caught
ca ught aa lizard.
liza rd .
S e nte nce s ca n ha ve more tha n one
s ubje ct or pre dica te .
• A c o mpo und s ubje c t is two or more
s ubje cts with the s a me pre dica te .
– The s ubje cts a re us ua lly joine d by and or or.
S ta ce y a nd he r brothe r we nt to the pa rk.

• A c o mpo und pre dic ate is two or more

pre dica te s with the s a me s ubje ct.
– The s imple pre dica te s in a compound pre dica te
a re us ua lly joine d by and, but, or or.
S ta ce y a nd he r brothe r we nt to the pa rk a nd
pla ye d fris be e .
 Me cha nics a nd Us a ge
• If a compound s ubje ct ha s two s ubje cts ,
the s ubje cts a re not s e pa ra te d by a
comma .
• If it ha s thre e or more s ubje cts , the y a re
s e pa ra te d by comma s .
J os h, Ca rrie , a nd Me g we nt fis hing .
 Me cha nics a nd Us a ge
• If a compound pre dica te ha s two
pre dica te s , the pre dica te s a re not
s e pa ra te d by a comma .
• If it ha s thre e or more pre dica te s , the y a re
s e pa ra te d by comma s .
Tonight we will e a t, re a d,
a nd pla y ga me s .