Predicate Nominatives and Predicate Adjectives

Predicate Adjectives and Predicate Nominatives

English III

What is a Predicate Nominative?

A predicate nominative is...

• a word or word group that is in the predicate and that identifies the subject or refers to it.

• A predicate nominative is almost always a noun.

​Predicate Nominatives are only in sentences that contain a linking verb.

• Common linking verbs include is, was, will be, has been, could have been, appear, feel, grow, look, seem, smell, sound, and taste.

The sentence pattern for a predicate nominative is:

S - LV - PN 

The predicate nominative names the subject of the sentence.

To find a predicate nominative:

1. Find the linking verb.

2. Find the subject.

3. Ask yourself [subject] [verb] what?

4. The answer is the predicate nominative.

​In the sentence:

Snakes are reptiles.

Verb = are

Subject = Snakes

Snakes are what?

Predicate Nominative = reptiles.

If the sentence is a question:

1. Turn the question into a statement.

2. Find the linking verb.

3. Find the subject.

4. Ask yourself [subject] [verb] what?

5. The answer is the predicate nominative.

The question: Will Mrs. Smith be our teacher?

Statement form: Mrs. Smith will be our teacher.

Verb = will be

Subject = Mrs. Smith

Mrs. Smith will be what?

Predicate Nominative = teacher

Let's practice!

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

Is that bright yellow bird a goldfinch?

• bird

• is

• goldfinch

subject

verb

predicate nominative

• subject

• verb

• predicate nominative

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

With more training, Evelyn could have been a concert violinist.

• Evelyn

• could have been

• concert violinist

subject

verb

predicate nominative

• subject

• verb

• predicate nominative

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

Emily Dickinson is my favorite poet.

• Emily Dickinson

• is

• poet

subject

verb

predicate nominative

• subject

• verb

• predicate nominative

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

The capital of Peru is Lima.

• capital

• is

• Lima

subject

verb

predicate nominative

• subject

• verb

• predicate nominative

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

Was your mother a contestant on that trivia game show?

• mother

• was

• contestant

subject

verb

predicate nominative

• subject

• verb

• predicate nominative

Now let's talk predicate adjectives.

What is a Predicate Adjective?

Well...it's an adjective (modifying a noun or pronoun).

• But instead of being next to the noun it is describing, predicate adjectives are part of the predicate.

• Predicate adjectives describe the subject of a sentence through a linking verb.

​Predicate Adjectives complete the meaning of a linking verb.

• Common linking verbs include is, was, will be, has been, could have been, appear, feel, grow, look, seem, smell, sound, and taste.

• You cannot have a Predicate Adjective with an action verb.

The sentence pattern for a predicate adjective is:

S - LV - PA 

The predicate adjective describes the subject of the sentence.

To find a predicate adjective:

1. Find the linking verb.

2. Find the subject.

3. Ask yourself [subject] [verb] what?

4. The answer is the predicate adjective.

Yes, these are the same steps as a predicate nominative. So how do you tell the difference? Well, predicate adjectives have to be an adjective, and predicate nominatives are nouns.

Here is what that looks like in practice:

Let's practice!

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

All of the finalists seemed nervous before the last round.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

All

seemed

nervous

• All

• seemed

• nervous

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

This couch is really comfortable!

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

couch

is

comfortable

• couch

• is

• comfortable

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

My grandmother has always been patient with me.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

grandmother

has been

patient

• grandmother

• has been

• patient

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

Snowboarding can be fun and exciting.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective 1

• Predicate Adjective 2

snowboarding

can be

fun

exciting

• snowboarding

• can be

• fun

• exciting

Match

Identify the parts of this sentence:

The piano player’s technique was flawless.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

technique

was

flawless

• technique

• was

• flawless

Almost always a noun

Predicate Nominative

Must be an adjective

Predicate Adjective

Let's practice telling the difference between PA and PN!

Multiple Choice

Identify the word in red.

Those wooden shoes are souvenirs from a trip to Holland.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

• Predicate Nominative

Multiple Choice

Identify the word in red.

Are the kids your next-door neighbors?

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

• Predicate Nominative

Multiple Choice

Identify the word in red.

My grandfather remains an avid gardener.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

• Predicate Nominative

Multiple Choice

Identify the word in red.

Does the tomato soup taste salty?

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

• Predicate Nominative

Multiple Choice

Identify the word in red.

None of the avocados were ripe.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

• Predicate Nominative

Multiple Choice

Identify the word in red.

Are those paintings originals?

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

• Predicate Nominative

Multiple Choice

Identify the word in red.

My next pet will be an iguana.

• Subject

• Verb

• Predicate Adjective

• Predicate Nominative

Well done! Make sure you complete the worksheet for more practice!