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Predicate

That part of the sentence that contains the verb and consists of a verb phrase. In the following examples, the bracketed portion is the predicate.

• My sister (is a journalist).
• Sugar (is sweet).
• I (am seldom late for office).

In a question or in another sentence involving fronting, the predicate may be discontinuous, or it may precede the subject.

• (Who are) you (talking to?)
• (Sweet are) the uses of adversity.
• (Never have) I (seen such a mess).
• (Here comes) the bus.