Subject/Predicate help

[Theta]

DD needs to find the simple predicate in these sentences. Please help, my brain isn't working.

1. Insects can be very interesting.

is it "be" or "can be"

2. Scientists have found dinosaur bones.

again is it "have found" or just "found"

 

[golfgal]

You are confusing predicate with verbs. The subjects are insects and scientists, the predicate is everything else. Be is a verb so if you need the verbs then can be and have found are the respective verbs.

 

[eduk8r26]

can be--verb and helping verb, Have found, "have" is the helper.

 

[Theta]

I guess the question is, what is the simple predicate.

The example given is:

Tall snowcapped mountains reach high into the sky. (complete predicate)

where reach is the simple predicate.

 

[Theta]

can be--verb and helping verb, Have found, "have" is the helper.

can be

have found

That was my guess, but of course DD didn't think I knew what I was talking about...teacher doesn't teach it that way...

 

[devonsmommy]

I would guess it's "be" and "found".

Simple to me means one word...

 

[MushyMushy]

The simple predicate would be the complete verb, which includes the helping verb. (would it help if you told your daughter I'm an English teacher? )