by Kitty Nash- The simple predicate of a sentence is the verb that is done in the sentence. It can be the action that happens, the state of being, or the linking verb. - Ask yourself, "The subject did what?" It can help if you find the subject first. Carlos wrote a letter to his uncle. (Carlos did what? He wrote.) My neighbor's dog barked all night. (Dog did what? It barked.) - A verb phrase is considered a single idea; therefore, it is still a simple predicate. Fred Mosby will be my new tutor. The police officer had explained what happened. - Not is not a verb. Therefore, it cannot be part of the simple predicate. Be careful when dealing with contractions. I don't want spaghetti for dinner again. I do not want spaghetti for dinner again. Practice What You've Learned- Use the toolbar above to underline the subject of each sentence once and the verb of each sentence twice. Remember to include helping verbs.- Roses bloom in my backyard.- My next door neighbor lives in an old firehouse. - Jeremiah will be coming to our house for the weekend. - The performer danced across the stage. - Ancient people believed in magic. - Those gummy candies are delicious. - Your teacher does not want your rough draft instead. - Allison's new car already needs a new battery. - My favorite actor's new action movie is playing in theaters this weekend. - Leading scientists have accepted his theory as fact.