Simple predicate?

The history of these pests may surprise you.

Would it be may?

The main verb is "surprise."

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surprise

The simple predicate is may surprise

Surprise you

What is the ansure

The simple predicate is the main verb or verb phrase that expresses the action or state of being in a sentence. In the sentence "The history of these pests may surprise you," the main verb is "surprise." Therefore, "surprise" is the simple predicate.

To identify the simple predicate, you can ask the question: "What is happening or being described in the sentence?" In this case, the action being described is the surprise that the history of these pests may cause.