Examples of Faulty Predication

The predicate is the part of the sentence or clause, including the verb, that expresses what the subject is or does.

A.K.A. The part of the sentence that says something about the noun, excluding the noun. Instructor Newsom teaches class every Tuesday and Thursday.

Faulty predication occurs when the subject and the verb do not make sense together. In other words, the subject can’t “be” or “do” the verb.

The purpose of movies was invented to entertain people. (The purpose was not invented. Movies were invented.) Correct: The purpose of movies is to entertain people. Correct: Movies were invented to entertain people.

Faulty Predication #1

A waterspout is when a tornado is over water. (A waterspout is not a time.) Correct: A waterspout is a tornado occurring over water.

Anorexia nervosa is where young women refuse to eat and gradually starve themselves to death. (Anorexia is not a place.) Correct: Anorexia nervosa is a disorder suffered by young women who refuse to eat and gradually starve themselves to death.

Faulty predication #2 The construction the reason is because… is redundant. Because means for the reason that, so the reason is because means the reason is for the reason that.

The reason for low sales is because prices are too high. Correct: The reason for low sales is that prices are too high. Correct: Sales are low because prices are too high.

Faulty predication #3

Prepositional phrases cannot be the subject of a sentence. Prepositional phrases often begin with: at, for, by, on, in, out, under, with

In the glacier’s retreat created a valley. Correct: The glacier’s retreat created a valley.

1. A_____ Dyslexia is a reading disorder. B_____ Dyslexia is where a person has a reading disorder.

Answer A is correct. Answer B is incorrect. Dyslexia is not a place.

2. A_____ A final examination is when students are tested on what they know. B_____ A final exam is a test of what students know.

Answer A is incorrect. A final exam is not a time.

Answer B is correct.

3. A_____ In his determination to win helped him finish the race. B_____ His determination to win helped him finish the race.

Answer A is incorrect. In his determination is a prepositional phrase, and a prepositional phrase cannot be the subject of a sentence.

Answer B is correct.

4. A_____ Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. B_____ The temperature of water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer A is correct. Answer B is incorrect. The temperature does not boil.

http://www.methodist.edu/english/dd_ predication.htm http://www.methodist.edu/english/predication_a nswers.pdf