Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify and understand the concept of predicates in English sentences.

Materials and Prep

• Pencil and paper
• Examples of sentences (can be written on index cards or prepared beforehand)

Activities

• Activity 1: Sentence Sorting

Write down different sentences on index cards. Cut each sentence into two parts - the subject and the predicate. Mix up the cards and have the student match the correct subject with its corresponding predicate. Discuss the concept of predicates as the action or state of the subject.

• Activity 2: Create Your Own Sentences

Provide the student with a list of subjects (e.g., animals, hobbies, famous people) and ask them to come up with their own sentences using those subjects. Encourage them to include a clear predicate in each sentence.

• Activity 3: Predicate Detective

Give the student a paragraph or a short story and ask them to underline or highlight all the predicates they can find. Discuss the different types of predicates they identified and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the sentences.

Talking Points

• "A predicate is an important part of a sentence that tells us what the subject is doing or what state it is in."
• "The predicate usually includes a verb, which is the action word in the sentence."
• "Verbs in the predicate can be simple, like 'run,' or more complex, like 'has been studying.'
• "Sometimes the predicate can also include other elements, like objects or adverbs, which give us more information about the action or state of the subject."
• "Remember, a sentence needs both a subject and a predicate to be complete and make sense."