Predicate is one of two main parts of sentence together with subject. Predicate can express action or state of being. It is usually expressed by verb, which frequently used as synonym for term “predicate”. However verb may be omitted in compound predicates (see below). Subject and object are called arguments of predicate. One of arguments of an action is the agent (which makes an action, usually subject) and the other one is the patient (receiver, undergoer of action, usually object).

Predicate may consist of more than one word:

• Two or more verbs:
  • Modal verb and main verb (usually infinitive);
  • Verbs expressing state or phase of action like “begin”, “became”, “stop” together with main verb (in infinitive).
• Verb (usually “to be”, often omitted in present tense) and nominal predicative:
  • Noun or noun phrase (“Witch-king of Angmar is ruler of nazgul”);
  • Adjective;
  • Noun with adjective;
  • Numeral, or numeral with noun;
  • Pronoun;
  • Participle.

Second part of compound predicate should be not mixed with other parts of sentence, as it is semantically the main part. Compare “Food was good” where “was good” is predicate as whole, and “Good food was eaten” where “good” is determiner and predicate is “was eaten”.