predicate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'predicate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the part of a sentence or clause that contains a verb and states something about the subject. For example, you could say "The predicate of the sentence is 'ran quickly'."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Either (option 1; Cocchiarella 1986) the terms standing for properties are predicates or (option 2; cf. Bealer 1982) such terms are subject terms that can be linked to other subject terms by a special predicate that is meant to express a predication relation (let us use 'pred') pretty much as in standard set theory a special predicate, '∈', is used to express the membership relation.

SEP

"The determination said the use of the slur was 'repugnant', and it is upsetting and entirely unacceptable for this to be used in a sporting event such as the ATP World Tour where equality amongst sportsmen is a predicate to fair competition and, indeed, paramount to the success of the Tour and of the sport," the statement continued.

The Guardian - Sport

Less surprising indeed, the predicate of the whole exercise was that within Dr Sander's two main classes of cancer he recognised 31 subclasses.

The Economist

So if the subject of the sentence It was he is nominative, so should the pronoun in the predicate be: it = he.

The Economist

Mr Pinker writes that it is normal informal English style to use the accusative pronouns me, him, her, us or them in a predicate after forms of the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were and so on).

The Economist

The first English grammarians never had to hear an inarticulate Roman teenager butcher his cases; they had only the works of great writers to judge by).As it happens, the rule "use the nominative case in the predicate nominative position" (It is I) is not just Greco-Latin.

The Economist

A granny facing a police line-up, jangled by her recent mugging, will point to the perpetrator and naturally shout, "That's him, officer!" And as Geoffrey Pullum, a syntactician at the University of Edinburgh, points out, there are many cases where the nominative pronoun I, he, she, we, they in predicate position is so weird as to be unacceptable.

The Economist

Him.What, me worry?Me, I prefer skiing to surfing"Me" in predicate position even appears in traditional places like the King James Bible's "woe is me".

The Economist

He argued that the verb to be and its forms (am, are, is, was, were) equate a subject (it) and a predicate (I).

The Economist

Bertrand Russell once wrote: "The 'is' of 'Socrates is human' expresses the relation of subject and predicate.

The Economist

Recently it has made concessions, signing dozens of bilateral information accords and making tax evasion a "predicate" offence for money-laundering, which means it can be dealt with more sternly.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "predicate" in formal writing, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to its grammatical, logical, or general meaning to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid confusing "predicate", which refers to a part of a sentence or a term in logic, with "predict", which means to foretell or anticipate a future event. Using the wrong term can significantly alter the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "predicate" is as a noun, referring to a part of a sentence or a term in logic. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to describe the part of a sentence that contains the verb and states something about the subject, or a term in logic that can be true or false.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "predicate" is a versatile word with distinct meanings in grammar and logic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it refers to the part of a sentence containing the verb that describes the subject, or a term in logic that can be true or false. Its usage spans across academic, news, and formal business contexts, highlighting its relevance in both theoretical and practical communication. Understanding its function and purpose ensures clarity and precision in writing and analysis. Be sure not to confuse it with "predict".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proposition

This focuses on a statement that expresses a judgment or opinion.

premise

This highlights the foundational statement or assumption that serves as the basis for an argument.

assertion

This term focuses on the act of stating something confidently and forcefully.

reason

This emphasizes the logical basis for an argument or action.

claim

This stresses the act of stating something as a fact, regardless of whether it is true.

postulate

This term implies a fundamental principle that is assumed to be true without proof.

justification

This highlights the act of showing something to be right or reasonable.

basis

This emphasizes the foundation or groundwork upon which something is established.

ground

This highlights the reason or justification for an action or belief.

statement

This is a general term for something that is said or written.

FAQs

How is "predicate" used in grammar?

In grammar, the "predicate" is the part of a sentence that contains the verb and says something about the subject. For example, in "The dog barks loudly", "barks loudly" is the predicate.

What is the logical meaning of "predicate"?

In logic, a "predicate" is a term that can be true or false depending on the values of its variables. It represents a property or relation.

What are some synonyms for "predicate" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "predicate" could include "assertion", "basis", or "premise".

How does the "predicate" relate to the subject in a sentence?

The "predicate" provides information about the subject of the sentence, stating what the subject does or is. It essentially completes the thought initiated by the subject.