Ever get into a text fight because someone misunderstood what you were trying to say? Knowing your simple predicate helps you cut the noise. Instead of “I was just thinking that maybe we could possibly go to the movies later if you’re free?” you can say “Let’s go to the movies.” The simple predicate is “go,” and it’s direct. Powerful. You sound like a leader, not a question mark.
It also helps you spot bad writing. Like in a contract or a cringe-worthy email. “The company will be obligated to provide the service.” The simple predicate is “will be obligated to provide.” That’s a mouthful. A strong writer says “The company must provide the service.” See how much clearer that is? You can be that strong writer.
So the next time you see a sentence, don’t panic. Just find the engine. The simple predicate. It’s the little word (or words) doing all the heavy lifting. And now you own that knowledge. Go forth and write some powerhouse sentences. I’ll be right here, sipping my coffee and being proud of you.
