The predicate nominative is a complicated matter in English, even for lifelong audio system. So what’s a predicate nominative? Under we clarify every little thing you want to find out about what they’re and tips on how to use them and provides loads of predicate nominative examples. We’ll additionally talk about the distinction between the predicate nominative and the predicate adjective.

What’s the predicate nominative?

The predicate nominative is a kind of topic complement that describes the topic as a brand new noun or noun phrase, as within the instance “Veda is a superb athlete.” Right here, an important athlete is the predicate nominative that describes the topic Veda, whereas is is the linking verb

Topic enhances are a kind of predicate that solely use linking verbs like be or appear, which relate again to the topic. The alternative of a linking verb is an motion verb like soar or run. Motion verbs, which, for probably the most half, work independently of the topic, in contrast to linking verbs. Due to how linking verbs work, the topic complement all the time comes after the verb.

Watch out to not confuse a predicate nominative with a predicate adjective, one other kind of topic complement. Like a predicate nominative, a predicate adjective additionally describes the topic in a brand new approach, but it surely does in order an adjective or adjective phrase. Under we speak extra about predicate nominative vs. predicate adjective.

Easy methods to use a predicate nominative

The predicate nominative can solely comply with a linking verb, as talked about above. Linking verbs are a particular kind of verb that doesn’t present an motion however as a substitute describes the topic. The one “motion” concerned in linking verbs is current or being in a sure state.

The verb be is the proper instance of a linking verb. The commonest verb in English, be is often used with predicate nominatives. (Simply keep in mind that be has particular conjugation guidelines.)

• She is my new finest buddy.
• Peso Pluma is a self-taught guitarist.

Along with no less than one noun, predicate nominatives additionally embrace any adjectives, prepositional phrases, or determiners (together with articles like the and a) that connect with the noun.

Sejong the Nice was the beloved ruler of Korea from 1418 till 1450.

On this instance, the primary noun of the predicate nominative is ruler, however your complete predicate nominative contains the article the, the adjective beloved, and the prepositional phrases from 1418 and till 1450. All of those “additional” phrases connect with ruler, which is the primary noun of the predicate nominative. In the long run, all components of the predicate nominative work collectively to explain the topic, Sejong the Nice.

Predicate nominatives will be both easy (one noun / noun phrase) or compound (two or extra nouns / noun phrases). Compound predicate nominatives embrace a conjunction.

Easy: She was the neatest particular person I’ve ever met.

Compound: She was the neatest particular person I’ve ever met and one of the best trumpet participant, too!

Moreover, predicate nominatives can be used with any conjugations or tenses of linking verbs.

In December, he could have been an emu rancher for 5 years.

The three predominant linking verbs are be, change into, and appear. Nonetheless, there are some verbs, similar to stay or act, that may be both linking verbs or motion verbs. Within the first sentence, remained is used as a linking verb, whereas within the second sentence appearing features as an motion verb.

• She remained the queen till her demise.

These are the phrases you need to fear about as a result of they use predicate nominatives solely once they’re linking verbs and never once they’re motion verbs. We clarify extra about tips on how to use them beneath and supply full lists.

Predicate nominative vs. predicate adjective

The predicate nominative and the predicate adjective are the 2 most typical kinds of topic enhances, so it is smart that they’re typically blended up. In any case, each comply with linking verbs and describe the topic.

The distinction between the predicate nominative and predicate adjective is whether or not the topic complement is a noun phrase or an adjective phrase. Predicate nominatives use noun phrases, whereas predicate adjectives use adjective phrases.

Predicate adjective: As I received older, I grew to become smarter.

Predicate nominative: As I received older, I grew to become a better particular person.

Though the sentiment is similar, these two examples use completely different grammar. The predicate adjective makes use of the adjective smarter to explain the topic I. The predicate nominative makes use of a noun phrase that revolves across the noun particular person, additionally to explain the topic I.

Listing of linking verbs that use the predicate nominative

Major linking verbs

These three verbs are all the time linking verbs and may solely use predicate nominatives and different topic enhances.

Linking verbs/motion verbs

These are verbs that can be utilized as both linking verbs or motion verbs, relying on the context. The verbs beneath can all use a predicate nominative, however there are different linking verbs that use a predicate adjective. For a proof of when these verbs can be utilized as motion verbs or linking verbs (with a predicate nominative), see our information on linking verbs.

• act
• represent
• equal
• stay
• keep

Predicate nominative FAQs

What’s a predicate nominative?

The predicate nominative is a kind of topic complement that describes the topic as a brand new noun or noun phrase, as within the instance “Veda is a superb athlete.” Right here, Veda is the topic, is is the verb (easy predicate), and an important athlete is the predicate nominative that describes Veda.

How do you utilize a predicate nominative in writing?

Like different topic enhances, predicate nominatives come solely after linking verbs like be or appear. If what follows a linking verb is a noun or noun phrase, that makes it a predicate nominative. Predicate nominatives additionally embrace different phrases or phrases that connect with the primary noun, together with articles (the, a) and prepositional phrases.

What’s the distinction between the predicate nominative and predicate adjective?

Predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives are each topic enhances that come after linking verbs and describe the topic. The distinction is that predicate nominatives are nouns or noun phrases, whereas predicate adjectives are adjectives or adjective phrases. The sentence “I’m lovely” makes use of a predicate adjective, whereas the sentence “I’m a fantastic particular person” makes use of a predicate nominative.