Question about predicate

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HelloI have a question regarding the OED definition of the word "predicate" It says:" The statement made about a subject, including the logical copula(which in a verb is expressed by the personal suffix).i don`t understand what is meant with the logical copula and the personal suffix. why is it expressed by this?i would be very thankfull, if someone could help mebest regardsjan

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[nq:1]Hello I have a question regarding the OED definition of the word "predicate" It says:" The statement made about a ... i don`t understand what is meant with the logical copula and the personal suffix. why is it expressed by this?[/nq]
Is that an exact quote from the OED? You didn't close the quotation, and I don't have access to that dictionary. From AHD, I see that 'predicate ' has two meanings- one in grammar, and the other in logic. 'Copula' also has a slightly different meaning in logic and in grammar. 'Logical copula' would seem to set the context as logic, but 'personal suffix' of a verb would seem to indicate grammar. The only personal suffix in English is the 's' that attaches to 3rd person singular verbs. Some common forms of 'to be' change form for different persons in the subject, but not exactly by suffixes.
Maybe it would help if you post more of the definition?
john

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hello I have a question regarding the OED definition of ... and the personal suffix. why is it expressed by this?[/nq]
[nq:1]Is that an exact quote from the OED? You didn't close the quotation, and I don't have access to that ... persons in the subject, but not exactly by suffixes. Maybe it would help if you post more of the definition?[/nq]
Yes, its the grammatical definition, but only the first part of it! i don`t think the rest will help by the question about the suffix but i will give you the whole definition!
"2.a. Gram. The statement made about a subject, including logical copula(which in a verb is expresed by the personal suffix.) sometimes restrictet to the main verb and its object or complement, to the exclusion of any adjunct. also in Logic and Math., freq. in wider use: an assertion or relation having one more terms unspecified; a propositional function."
I hope that helps?
jan

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Is that an exact quote from the OED? You didn't ... it would help if you post more of the definition?[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, its the grammatical definition, but only the first part of it! i don`t think the rest will help by ... in Logic and Math., freq. in wider use: an assertion or relation having one more terms unspecified; a propositional function."[/nq]
Sorry, I can't figure out what they're getting at.
john

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Yes, its the grammatical definition, but only the first part ... or relation having one more terms unspecified; a propositional function."[/nq]
[nq:1]Sorry, I can't figure out what they're getting at.[/nq]
i`ve postetd the same question in another forum and someone gave me the fillowing answer:
"EX: She washes the car.
In grammar, the first word She is the subject, and washes the car is the predicate. The predicate is made up of the verb washes and its object the car.
Grammar: She washes the car. (Predicate)
In logic, every proposition is reducible to the form A is B, B being the predicate. That is, we insert a word between the subject and the predicate to get a better idea of what the predicate actually looks like, like this,
Logic: She is washing the car. (Predicate)
The logical form of She washes the car would be She is washing the car.
The logical copula (i.e. the word that connects or couples together the subject with the predicate) would be "is",
She is washing the car. (Copula)
With other verbs, though, the logical copula (i.e. the thing that connects the subject with the predicate) is not visible,

She (subject) washes the car. (Predicate)
Here we have A B; there's no A is B.
In a verb, such as washes, walks, goes, eats, the logical copula, or in other words, the thing that ties or bridges the subject with the predicate, is expressed by the personal suffix (i.e. by inflection),

She washes the car.
That is, the -es ending on washes agrees in number and person with the 3rd person singular subject She. Subject-Verb Agreement acts as the logical copula.
She washes the car. (Logical Copula)
She is washing the car. (Logical Copula)
When there isn't a copula (i.e. "is, am, are" etc.), inflection (i.e. -es) acts as the joining element.
All the best,"
I think that sounds very good as an explanation for the question! what do you think?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Sorry, I can't figure out what they're getting at.[/nq]
[nq:1]i`ve postetd the same question in another forum and someone gave me the fillowing answer: "EX: She washes the car. ... element. All the best," I think that sounds very good as an explanation for the question! what do you think?[/nq]
That may be what they meant by the definition, but it's not a good one (IMNSHO). Since the 's' suffix on a verb is limited to 3rd person singular, and to the present tense, most often the word order and the possibilities of meaning determine the linkage. They also seem to be conflating the two meanings of predicate and and the two of copula, without being clear about it.

john

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