Survey of English Grammar Wiki: Predicate

The Predicate

Every clause contains a predicate. The predicate is the highest VP (or AuxP) in a clause. In English, clauses always have a VP predicate, however, this VP can also contain a semantically vacuous verb, such as the copula be, and an AP, NP, or PP (i.e. a predicative complement). Example: with a VP predicate (a), and an AuxP predicate (b)

(a) _S_ (b) _S_

        /   \                  /    \
       /    pred              /     pred
      /       \              /        \
    NP    ____VP___        NP   ______AuxP____
   /__\  /_________\      /__\ /______________\
   Pat   read a book.     Pat  will read a book.