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Prepositions after verbs

Predicate on, upon, of, by or against

Predicate is a formal verb meaning base or found something on a fact or assumption. The standard combinations are predicate on and predicate upon.

Quick answer

Correct prepositions after predicate

Use predicate on or the more formal predicate upon to mean base something on a condition, belief, or fact. Predicate of, predicate by, and predicate against are not standard combinations with this meaning.

The strategy is predicated on accurate data.
Their argument was predicated upon a false assumption.
Success cannot be predicated on luck alone.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
predicate on + basis

Basing something on a fact or assumption

On is the standard modern preposition after predicate.

The proposal is predicated on market demand.
The theory was predicated on incomplete evidence.
2
predicate upon + basis

Using a formal alternative

Upon has the same meaning as on but sounds more formal or legalistic.

The contract is predicated upon mutual trust.
Their forecast was predicated upon stable prices.
3
be predicated on + condition

Using passive structures

Predicate is often used in passive voice in academic, legal, and business writing.

The decision was predicated on safety concerns.
Growth is predicated on continued investment.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
predicate on
The plan is predicated on strong demand.
standard modern form meaning based on
predicate upon
The agreement was predicated upon cooperation.
formal variant of predicate on
predicate of
The plan is predicated of strong demand.
nonstandard with this meaning in current English
predicate by
The policy is predicated by recent events.
nonstandard for expressing a basis or condition
predicate against
The argument is predicated against change.
nonstandard with predicate meaning base on

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using predicate of instead of predicate on

Of is not the standard preposition after predicate meaning base on.

✕ The theory is predicated of outdated ideas. ✓ The theory is predicated on outdated ideas.

Using predicate by in passive constructions

Predicate does not normally take by to express the basis of something.

✕ The model is predicated by several assumptions. ✓ The model is predicated on several assumptions.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The entire project is predicated ___ reliable funding.
2. Their legal argument was predicated ___ a technical detail.
3. Which option is nonstandard in current English?

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Frequently asked questions

Is predicate upon old-fashioned?

It is still used, especially in formal or legal writing, but on is more neutral.

Can predicate be active or passive?

Yes, but passive forms such as is predicated on are especially common.

Do predicate of or predicate against ever sound natural?

Not in the meaning base on. Standard English uses predicate on or predicate upon.

pack-with-in-into-for, on paint in, on, with, by or for? "park in" or "park at"? "partake in" or "partake of"? pass through, by, on, in or to? pave with, in, by, for or to? pay for, to, by, in or on? "peddle by" or "peddle to"? "peek at" or "peek into"? "peel off" or "peel for"? "pee on" or "pee in"? "peer into", "peer through" or "peer at"?

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