Statements
In the most basic Statement predicate, we use just a verb phrase to tell us what the subject does:
{subject} + {verb phrase}
Paint dries.
Queen Victoria was sleeping.
The man in the large hat had been dancing.
With an object predicate, the subject does something to another noun phrase (the object):
{subject} + {verb phrase} + {object}
I painted the wall.
Queen Victoria told a joke.
The man in the large hat clapped his hands.
With complements, we use a predicate to describe the subject in more detail:
{subject} + {verb phrase} + {complement}
I feel ill.
Victoria was Queen of England.
The man in the large hat became a professional dancer.
By using an adverbial predicate, we can give more information about the verb or the whole statement:
{subject} + {verb phrase} + {adverbial}
The answer is in the back of the book.
Queen Victoria reigned during the 19th century.
The man in the large hat danced on a stage.
