Compound predicates in English. Predicate in English: types with examples

Here is a table with information about the predicate in English.

Predicate(Table 13) in an English declarative sentence usually stands after the subject and happens:

I. Simple; it is a personal verb form:

1) indicative mood
I read a book. - I am reading a book.
I am reading a book (now). - I'm reading a book now.
I have been reading it (for two days). I have been reading it (for 2 days already).
I have read it. - I read it.
I was given a book. - They gave me a book.

2) subjunctive mood
I should do this work if I had time. I would do this job if I had time.

II. Composite, which consists of a linking verb(link verb) and nominal part(predicative). Verbs are used as a linking verb: be - to be, feel - to feel, keep - to keep, continue, become, grow, get, turn - to become, seem, appear - to seem, look, etc.

As a nominal part are used:

1. Noun
Is not a research worker. - He is a researcher.
Has not become a research worker. - He became a research assistant.

2. Adjective
My house is new. - My house is new.

3. Communions(I, II)
It was well done. - It was well done.
He seemed tired, bul kept working. He looked tired, but continued to work.

4. Pronouns:
1) personal(im. m.) That was he. - That was him.
2) possessive(II form) The paper is his. This is his article.
3) index It was that. - That was it.
4) uncertain It is too much for me. - It's too much for me.
5) relative and connective
The question is who will go there. The question is who will go there.
6) interrogative e What has she become? – What has she become?

5. Numerals:
1) quantitative
They were five. - There were five of them.
2) ordinal
She was the first to do it. “She was the first to do it.

6. Infinitive or Gerund
Our aim is to master English. Our goal is to master English.
Our aim is mastering English. Our goal is to master the English language.

7. Adverb She was out. - She went out.

8. Noun or pronoun with a preposition
When the pendulum is at rest, it shows the direction of gravity. – When the pendulum is at rest, it shows the direction of gravity.
It is for him. - This is for him.

9. Adverbial predicate sentence
The question is if (whether) he will come. The question is whether he will come.

III. complex, consisting of modal verb and infinitive
I can do it. – I can do it.
Is not to go there. “He has to go there.

Translation: verb; the verb to be (become) in combination with a noun, adjective, participle, pronoun, numeral; verbs to become, start, be able, want and others in combination with an infinitive, a subordinate predicate sentence.

In English, subject-verb agreement is very important. Without knowing its principles, you will not be able to construct even a simple sentence. Let's find out how to correctly coordinate the predicate with the subject in English.

1. If the subject in a sentence consists of two or more nouns (pronouns) connected by a union and, you should use the verb in plural. Example:

   • He and his colleagues are in the cinema.

2. However, if two or more nouns (pronouns) that make up the subject are connected in a sentence by conjunctions or or nor, the verb referring to them must be used in the singular. Examples:

   • My mother or sister is going to cook a dinner.

3. If the compound subject consists of a noun (pronoun) in the plural and singular, and they are joined together by unions or or nor, the verb of the predicate should be coordinated with the part of the subject that is in the sentence close to the verb.

   Examples:

   • Neither the coach nor the players know the score.
   • Neither the players nor the coachknows the score.

4. Doesn't is a shortened form of does not and is used with the subject in the singular. Don't is an abbreviation do not and suitable for plural subjects. An exception to this rule are 1st and 2nd person pronouns. I and you as a subject. They should be used with don't. Examples:

   • She doesn't play football.
   • They don't like coffee.
   • I don't like cooking.
   • You don't play chess.

5. The verb should agree with the subject, and not with another noun (pronoun) that may be between them in the sentence. Examples:

   • One of the chickens was ill.
   • The woman with all her children stays at the bus stop.
   • The people who trust the president are many.

6. In English, pronouns each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, someone, somebody and no one possess the singular and require the verb in the singular, respectively. Examples:

   

   • Everyone likes apples.
   • Neither is correct.
   • Nobody in the team wants to give up.
   • each of these apricots on the table is ripe.

7. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, news, measles require the use of the verb-predicate in the singular. Examples:

   Note: noun dollars in the meaning of the amount of money is used with the verb in the singular. If we are talking about the currency as a whole, then the verb will be in the plural.
   • in my mind, mathematics is the most important science.
   • Yesterday the news was at seven.
   • one hundred dollars is a lot of money.
   • dollars are convertible throughout the world.

8. Nouns such as scissors, shears, tweezers, trousers require the plural form of the verb (since they all consist of two parts). Examples:

   • These trousers are style.
   • Your scissors are keen.

9. Expressions such as such as with, together with, including, accompanied by, in addition to, as well do not change the number of the subject, as well as the verb-predicate. Examples:

   

   • My brother accompanied by his friends, is playing football.
   • all cats, including small kittens, have strong claws.

10. In sentences that begin with turnovers there is or there are, the subject follows after the verb-predicate, however, they still agree. Examples:

    • There are many students.
    • There is a student.

11. Collective nouns, meaning more than one person, however, have a singular form and are used with a verb in the singular. Examples:

    • Today the team demonstrates outstanding performance.
    • His family was pretty big.
    • The crew is ready for departure.

The topic of the article is very important, because the rules for agreeing the subject and the predicate are applicable in almost every sentence.
Now, having replenished your knowledge base, you can better prepare, for example, for, and you will feel much more confident when speaking in English with a native speaker.

The infinitive performs in the sentence all the syntactic functions characteristic of a noun and a verb:

Subject

To err is human.

It is natural to make mistakes .

In the first case, the infinitive acts as the subject of the sentence and takes a position at the beginning of the sentence.

In the second case, the sentence has two subjects: the formal ‘it’ and the nominal ‘to make mistakes’. Compare: To make mistakes is natural.

predict. Predicate.

In English, as in Russian, there are different types of predicates:

Simple Verbal Predicate. Simple verbal predicate.

The infinitive is used to form analytical verb forms: auxiliary verbs + the Infinitive .

The cinema will close in November. (Future Simple)

The shop didn't open last week. (Past Simple)

Does he often play tennis? (interrogative form Present Simple)

Compound Nominal Predicate. Compound nominal predicate.

A compound nominal predicate consists of a linking verb (to be) in the appropriate form and an infinitive.

my greatest wish is to tell everything you.

Your only chance was to speak to him.

Compound Verbal Modal Predicate. Compound verbal modal predicate.

A compound verbal modal predicate consists of a modal verb or a synonymous expression (to be able to, to be allowed, to be capable, to be going, had better, would sooner) and an infinitive.

You should follow a healthy diet.

He can't utter a word.

You needn't have bought any bread.

I wasn't able to reach him on the phone.

Compound Verbal Phasal Predicate. Compound verbal aspect predicate.

A compound verbal aspect predicate consists of an aspect verb that indicates the various phases of the action (beginning, duration, end, repetition) and an infinitive . Aspect verbs include: to begin, to start, to come, to go on, to continue, to proceed, to cease, used to.

It started to rain .

He continued to live with his parents even after marriage.

German Empire ceased to exist in 1918.

He used to talk to me for hours.

Mixed Predicate. Mixed type of predicate.

Sometimes there are sentences with a mixed type of predicate.

The boy must be her son.- the Compound Modal Nominal Predicate.

She must start to train regularly.- the Compound Modal Phasal Predicate.

object. Addition.

The infinitive acts as an object if it depends on the verb, adjective, participle and answers the question "what?".

She agreed to come at ten.

I regret to have said it to her.

Can you help me to find the ring?

He was amused to hear it.

She is proud to have grown such a son.

attribute. Definition.

The infinitive acts as a definition if it depends on a noun, pronoun, substantiated numerals and adjectives, and answers the question “what?”

He is just the man to do it.

She needs a place to live in.

I have nobody to ask .

John was the first to come .

Adverbial modifiers. Circumstance.

Adverbial Modifier of Purpose. Purpose circumstance.

An infinitive is a circumstance of purpose if it depends on the predicate and answers the question "why?" for what purpose?"

Laura has gone to town to do some shopping .

To get a good seat, you need to arrive early.

Adverbial Modifier of Result (Consequence). The circumstance of the result (consequence).

The infinitive in a sentence acts as a circumstance of the result if it is used after the following structures:

Too + Adjective + to Infinitive:

It was too cold to go outside.

Too + Adverb + to Infinitive:

He had gone too far to return.

Adjective + enough + to Infinitive:

She is old enough to go out on her own.

Adverb + enough + to Infinitive:

He ran fast enough to win the race.

Enough + Noun + to Infinitive:

We've got enough room to put you up.

parenthesis. Introductory words.

Introductory words are not members of a sentence, but such constructions with an infinitive are very common: to begin with, to be frank, to put it mildly, to tell the truth, strange to say etc.

The predicate in English (The predicate) denotes the action or state of objects, persons, actions that are expressed. This member of the sentence answers the following questions: What is done with the subject? What does the subject do? What is it? What is it like? Consider the features of the formation of the predicate, its main forms, and also provide examples for better understanding of the topic.

The predicate is divided into several specific types. It happens:

• simple,
• composite.

If we talk about compound predicates, then they are divided into two types:

1. compound noun,
2. compound verb.

The first is formed in the following way => linking verb + nominal part.

Formation of the second => modal verb + infinitive

This is only the main scheme, but it is important to remember that in a compound nominal predicate, the linking verb is expressed to be in different forms, but ... the words to look, to seem, to turn, to get, to become, etc. can act as a link. As for the nominal part, it can be - gerund, participle, numeral, infinitive, pronoun, adverb, adjective, noun.

In a compound verb predicate, must, may, can, ought, etc. are used as modal verbs. Moreover, note that a construction that consists of some verbs + an infinitive or a gerund can also serve as a compound verbal predicate.

Simple predicates

They are expressed by verbs in a personal form, and they can be in any mood, voice and tense:

She wears a uniform => She wears a uniform.

He looks at the window => He looks out the window.

Mary is cooking her favorite cookies => Mary is making her favorite homemade cookies.

Note! The predicate in English can be either one word or consist of several words. In the latter case, we will use auxiliary and semantic verbs. Predicates can be expressed by verbs in any voice and modified forms (the table clearly shows this):

On a note! Simple predicates also include those that are expressed by phrasal verbs and stable combinations, which generally form one holistic concept, in other words, a phraseological expression =>

She pays no attention to his remarks => She doesn't pay attention to his remarks.

The grandparents take care of their little grandchildren => Grandparents take care of their little grandchildren.

Compound nominal predicate

As we have already said, it consists of a linking verb and a nominal part. Speaking of the linking verb, in most cases it will be the verb to be, which can be in any person and tense => is/are/were/was/am…

On a note! unlike the Russian language, in English the verb to be is not omitted in the present tense.

As for the nominal part, it serves to express the main semantic meaning of the predicate. At the same time, the nominal part characterizes the subject => what it is, what it is, what it is, or who.

On a note! Under the nominal part of speech, we mean any part of speech, except for interjection and conjunction. In addition, the nominal part can be expressed by a subordinate clause.

Sentences in which the nominal part is represented =>

1. pronoun

The cake is yours=> The cake is yours.

It is him=> This is it.

1. noun

He was a gardener=> He was a gardener.

She is the brightest student=> She is the smartest student.

1. Pronoun or noun with a preposition

My parents are strongly against it=> My parents are categorically against it.

Her grandmother was in despair=> Her grandmother was in despair.

1. numeral

She is twenty-five=> She is 25 years old.

This young girl is seventeen=> This young girl is 17 years old.

1. adjective

the sky is blue=> The sky is blue.

The paper is yellow=> The paper is yellow.

The cake is delicious=> The cake is amazingly delicious.

1. adverb

My close friends are far away=> My close friends are very far away.

theory was over so we began to practice => The theory is over, so we started to practice.

1. infinitive

Her task was to help them to cope with everything => Her job was to help them cope with everything.

His ideology is to help everybody who is in need => his ideology is to help everyone who is in need.

1. Communion

The store is closed=> The shop is closed.

The eggs are boiled=> Eggs are boiled.

1. gerund

His most sincere wish was painting=> His most cherished desire was to draw.

Her greatest wish is cooking=> Her biggest desire is to cook.

Compound verb predicate

The scheme for the formation of such a predicate => a combination of modal verb + infinitive.

Modal verbs that are used in compound verb predicates:

• Need - need, need
• Shall / should - expresses a need, an order,
• Must - necessary, necessary
• May - to be able, to be able,
• Can - be able, able,
• Ought (to) - should, should
• Will / would - expresses intention, desire, promise,
• To have (to) - must (strong form),
• To be (to) - must (in the form of an order).

After the modal verbs comes the semantic verb, which is expressed by the infinitive without the to particle:

• I can write an article => I can write an article.
• You must start learning English => You must start learning English.
• She may not come today => She may not come today.

But!

• They are to start that project => They are to start that project.
• I have to visit my relatives => I have to visit my relatives.

As you can see, in the last two examples we use the to particle. But this is not an exception to the rule, but a feature of the formation of a modal verb, which in its composition has a particle to (have to, be to, ought to).

A few more striking examples of compound verb predicates in sentences:

• You should have followed their advice => You should have followed their advice.
• She may have seen that movie earlier => She may have seen the movie earlier.
• A lot of things are to be done because of this statement => A lot of things need to be done because of this statement.

Pay attention to the verbs that are most often used with compound verb predicates:

to start, to begin, to go on, to stop, to continue, to finish.

A few examples:

• He began to do everything as you said => He began to do everything as you said.
• I have finished translating this => I have finished translating this.
• She stopped explaining everything => She stopped explaining everything.

Summing up

The predicate in English plays an important role in the construction of a sentence. Having learned how to use them correctly in different forms, tenses and faces, you will learn how to speak correctly, without mistakes and blunders. At the same time, pay attention to the agreement of the subject and predicate in English.

From the examples above, it is clear with what prepositions, particles and connectives the main members of the sentence are used and in what form, number and person they are best used. But ... English grammar is rich in exceptions, which determines the interestingness of its study. By studying the subject and verb together, you increase the chances of a better understanding of the topic. Grammar is here to help too!

Views: 315

It is expressed by the verb in personal form in any tense, voice and mood. The form of the verb can be simple, i.e. without auxiliary verbs (He speaks English. He speaks English), or complex, i.e. with auxiliary verbs (Not is reading now. He is reading now. I shall be waiting for you at 5. I'll be waiting for you at 5).

Note. In Russian, the forms I will wait, I will read, etc. are also a simple predicate expressed by a complex form of the verb in the future tense.

Verbs with postpositions (such as to carry out) stable combinations with a verbal meaning (such as to take care to care) also form a simple predicate in the sentence.

• The beta-rays are known to move with high velocity. -- Beta rays are known to travel at high speeds.
• I seem to have promised you that I "d take you in my lab. - It seems that I promised you that I would take you to my laboratory.
• He is sure to be sent there. “He will certainly be sent there.
• He was seen crossing the bridge. We saw him cross the bridge

If two subjects expressed by nouns or pronouns are connected by the union and or Both ... and, the predicate is plural:

• The earth and other plans ets move around the sun. The earth and other planets revolve around the sun.
• Both the dog and his master were dragged ashore by Pete and Hans. “Both the dog and its owner were dragged ashore by Piet and Hans.

If two subjects are joined by a union as well as as well as, the predicate agrees in person and number with the first subject:

• Liquid, as well as solids. becomes radioactive when put through a nuclear reactor. -- Liquids, like solids, become radioactive when passed through a nuclear reactor.
• Gases, as well as liquids, return to their original volume as soon as the applied force is removed. -- Gases, like liquids, return to their original volume as soon as the applied force is removed.