+425.+ Look first in the predicate for your verb. It will always be the
principal part of your predicate. It may be a verb or a verb phrase, but
the first thing in analyzing the complete predicate of the sentence is
to find the verb. The verb or verb phrase without any of its modifiers
constitutes the simple predicate. If the verb is a complete verb, its
only modifiers will be adverbs or adverb phrases. For example:
A splendid statue of Lincoln stands yonder in the park.
In this sentence, _stands yonder in the park_ is the complete predicate.
_Stands_ is a complete verb. It requires no object, but it is modified
by the adverb _yonder_ and by the adverb phrase _in the park_.