The predicate is the part of
the sentence or clause,
including the verb, that
expresses what the subject is
or does.
A.K.A.
The part of the sentence
that says something about
the noun, excluding the
noun.
Instructor Newsom teaches class every Tuesday and Thursday.
Faulty predication occurs
when the subject and the verb
do not make sense together.
In other words, the subject
can’t “be” or “do” the verb.
The purpose of movies was invented to
entertain people. (The purpose was not
invented. Movies were invented.)
Correct: The purpose of movies is to entertain people.
Correct: Movies were invented to entertain people.
Faulty Predication #1
A waterspout is when a tornado is over water.
(A waterspout is not a time.)
Correct: A waterspout is a tornado occurring
over water.
Anorexia nervosa is where young women refuse to eat
and gradually starve themselves to death.
(Anorexia is not a place.)
Correct: Anorexia nervosa is a disorder suffered by
young women who refuse to eat and gradually starve
themselves to death.
Faulty predication #2
The construction the reason is
because… is redundant. Because
means for the reason that, so the
reason is because means the
reason is for the reason that.
The reason for low sales is because prices are
too high.
Correct: The reason for low sales is that prices
are too high.
Correct: Sales are low because prices are too
high.
Faulty predication #3
Prepositional phrases
cannot be the subject of a
sentence.
Prepositional phrases often begin with:
at, for, by, on, in, out, under, with
In the glacier’s retreat created a valley.
Correct: The glacier’s retreat created a
valley.
1. A_____ Dyslexia is a reading
disorder.
B_____ Dyslexia is where a
person has a reading disorder.
Answer A is correct.
Answer B is incorrect.
Dyslexia is not a place.
2. A_____ A final examination is
when students are tested on what
they know.
B_____ A final exam is a test of
what students know.
Answer A is incorrect.
A final exam is not a time.
Answer B is correct.
3. A_____ In his determination
to win helped him finish the
race.
B_____ His determination to
win helped him finish the race.
Answer A is incorrect.
In his determination is a prepositional phrase, and a
prepositional phrase cannot be the subject of a sentence.
Answer B is correct.
4. A_____ Water boils at 212 degrees
Fahrenheit.
B_____ The temperature of water
boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Answer A is correct.
Answer B is incorrect.
The temperature does not
boil.
http://www.methodist.edu/english/dd_
predication.htm
http://www.methodist.edu/english/predication_a
nswers.pdf