Predicate (Verb Phrase)

By Dr. Md. Momin Uddin

Associate Professor
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 The predicate is also called a verb phrase. The

verb phrase can be a single word or more than
one word. When the predicate (verb phrase)
consists of more than one word, it is associated
by (an) adverbial(s) or/and (a) noun phrase(s).
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 Structures of a verb phrase:

 Only verb:

1. He laughs.
2. She dances.
3. We can sing
4. They were swimming.
5. They participated.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 Structures of a verb phrase:

 Verb + Adverbial(s)
 Verb + NP + Adverbials
 An adverbial is a word or a group of words that
functions as an adverb in a sentence.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 Adverbial
 One word:
 Here, there, home, abroad, upstairs, downstairs,
late, now, then, always, often, overnight, fast, nicely,
etc.
 A group of words:
 Then and there, now and then, bag and baggage,
fifty-fifty, home and abroad, etc.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 Verb + Adverbial
 Prepositional phrase as adverbial
 He works in the field.
 He swims in the pond.
 He stood on the stage.
 He sat beside the wall.
 They are waiting for me.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 Verb + Adverbial
 Present participle as adverbial
 He came dancing.
 He stood singing on the stage.
 He sat watching TV.
 They went away laughing.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 Verb + Adverbial
 Past participle as adverbial
 He came back disappointed.
 He sat injured.
 He sat down insulted.
 They looked out, rebuked by the teacher.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)

 Verb + Infinitive
 Infinitive as adverbial
 He came back to talk to his mother.
 He was waiting to meet his friend.
 He sat down to see the sight clearly.
 They looked out to watch the scene.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)
 Verb + adverbials
 They swim everyday in the national swimming pool to
keep their body fit to participate in the Olympics to be
held newt year in Japan.
 They prepared well to do well in the BCS exam to
qualify for better cadre.
 They hang out all day on the beach in Cox’s Bazaar,
walking in the sun, bathing in the water, gossiping with
friends, singing with the locals, watching birds on the
trees on the bank to make their tour memorable.
 Predicate (Verb Phrase)
 Verb + adverbials
 We looked down from the top of the tower to
see the people walking on the beach near
Laboni pont.
 Last year in December, a devastating flood
occurred inundating almost half of the district
causing untold sufferings to the people
marooned in the upper basin.