The predicate is a very important part of the sentence. It is thanks to him that the meaning of what they are trying to convey becomes clear. Of course, there are sentences without this member, but they do not carry the dynamics that is an attribute of the predicate. There are a lot of varieties of this member of the sentence in Russian, and each is used to convey certain semantic shades. Let's analyze what a predicate is and its ways of expression.
Grammatical basis of the sentence
Before talking about the predicate as such, attention should be paid to the predicative, or grammatical, basis in which it is included. It is no coincidence that these members of the proposal are called the main ones. After all, the subject and predicate are the main guidelines for the fact that we have before us not a phrase, but a more complex syntactic unit.
Here is an example:
1. Colorful fish.
2. Nimble and colorful fish scurry between the stones here and there in shallow water.
In the first case, we have a phrase in which we can distinguish the main and dependent word. However, we do not observe the semantic load about what kind of fish they are, where they live, what happens to them. Thus, we have a phrase. In the secondcase before us offer. Let's prove it. The basis of the sentence is easily singled out: the fish are scurrying about. Here the main idea is already framed, the statement has a finished look, intonational completeness is felt.
Even if you remove all the minor members, the basis of the proposal remains. The fish are scuttling. It will no longer be a phrase for the reasons listed above.
In addition to the predicate, which will be discussed later, the subject is included in the predicative stem. This member of the sentence indicates the subject of speech, it is reported in this syntactic unit.
Predicate: definition of the concept
What is a predicate? Its main task is to convey the meaning of what is said about the subject of speech, expressed by the subject.
- What does it do? The girl is reading a book about butterflies with interest. The predicate reads reports the action of the subject girl.
- What is the subject of speech? The girl today is unusually beautiful and charming. Uniform beautiful, charming report the characteristics of the subject girl.
- Who (or what) is he? Birch is a beautiful tree of Russia, its symbol. The predicate tree determines that there is such a subject birch.
Types of predicates
Taking into account the meaning in which the predicate is used and its ways of expression, different types of this member of the sentence are distinguished.
Let's look at an example. Cheeks redden. - Cheeks continue to blush. - Cheeks become red. All three of these suggestionsconvey, in principle, the same idea, but the grammatical meaning and shades of meaning are different for them. So, in the first sentence, the grammatical meaning and semantic load lie on the predicate blush. Another thing is the second and third sentences. Here the grammatical and lexical meanings are conveyed by different words. Predicates consist of two words (continue to blush, turn red), one of which (the first) carries a grammatical load, the second (an infinitive in the first case and an adjective in the second) - semantic.
Also, all predicates of the Russian language are divided into simple and compound. The first consists of one verb, which carries the semantic and grammatical aspects. My sister plays with dolls all evening. The predicate plays - simple.
Another thing is the compound predicate and its ways of expression. At least two words take part here, one of which describes the grammatical component, and the second - the semantic one (see examples at the beginning of the section).
According to their type, nominal and verbal predicates are distinguished, examples of which will be given in the following sections. It is quite simple to distinguish between them: if one of its parts is expressed by any name: noun, adjective, numeral, it will be called nominal.
Verbal predicate and its connection with the subject
Before listing the ways of expressing a nominal and verbal predicate with examples, let's look at how it is associated with the subject in a sentence.
This can happen by number category: The student is writing a dictation. -Pupils write a dictation.
Also, agreement can be realized in number and gender: The student wrote a dictation. The student was writing a dictation. – The students were writing a dictation.
A special case is when the subject is expressed by a word with the meaning of some quantity. Here it is necessary to take into account the context and put the predicate either in the singular or in the plural. O blaka float across the bright blue sky. - Many students will remember their school years with gratitude and light sadness. Teaching occupies a special place among specialists. The last sentence is very significant, because in it the subject has a collective meaning, therefore it is required to put the predicate only in the singular. These are such subjects as the majority, society, people, minority and others.
Simple verb predicate
Let's analyze the ways of expressing a simple verbal predicate. In it, the semantic and grammatical components are enclosed in one verb form. Let's make a reservation right away, it is a mistake to say that a simple verbal predicate is just one word, since it can be expressed in a form that involves several words, significant or not.
So, ways of expressing the predicate with examples:
- A verb in one of the moods. I will go on vacation by the sea (indicative) – I would go on vacation by the sea (conditional) – Go on vacation by the sea (imperative).
- Difficult future tenseverb. I will bake a cake for my birthday (I will bake).
- The verb to be, if it means the presence of something or just existence. It rained all day yesterday. I have this quality.
- Phraseologism, if it contains a conjugated form. Olesya finally came to her senses. I find a common language with almost every child and parent.
Compound verb predicate
Let's analyze the compound verb predicate and its ways of expression. It includes the main part and the auxiliary. The first contains a semantic load and is an infinitive, while the second contains a grammatical meaning. Also, the auxiliary part can be endowed with additional shades of meaning. Let's figure out what the compound verb predicate means. Examples will help you understand this better.
- Steps of action: start, end, duration. I'm going to re-read Pushkin. I'm finishing whitewashing the walls.
- Desire or necessity of action, its possibility. Olga wanted to cut her hair very short. I should warn you about the danger of getting burned.
- Some kind of emotional context. I love walking along the promenade at any time of the year.
As mentioned above, the main part is always a verb-infinitive. The auxiliary can be a short adjective with the meaning of the action: should, glad and others, it can also include words of the state category: necessary, possible, fun, bitter, loved, good.
Nominal predicate
A compound nominal predicate has in addition toauxiliary part nominal. It contains the semantic component. The auxiliary part is responsible for the grammatical content and connection with the subject.
Let's analyze what a similar predicate is and how to express it. If we talk about the auxiliary part, then it can be:
- Connective verb to be. Her difference is that in the present tense she becomes zero: She was smart and beautiful. She will be smart and beautiful. She is smart and beautiful.
- Other linking verbs, which, unlike being, have additional meanings: to seem, to be considered, to be, to become, and others.
Verbs of motion such as sit, come, stand and others. Liza sat proud and impregnable
As for the nominal part, it can be a noun, an adjective, a word of the category of state, a participle or an adjective, complete, short in a comparative degree. Andrei was taller than Igor by a whole head. The sky was blue and very clear. The table is a piece of furniture that is so necessary for the household.
Pronouns may also be present in the nominal part. The girl was exactly what he saw in his dreams. There are also numbers. Ten times ten is one hundred.
Phraseologisms are not uncommon as a nominal part. Shorokhov was a master of all trades in construction.
