Introduction
When it comes to English grammar, understanding predicate nominatives is an essential skill. These nouns and pronouns can serve as the subject complement in a sentence, adding important meaning to the overall message. In this blog post, we will dive into the ins and outs of predicate nominatives, exploring their usage, structure, and examples. Whether you're a student or just looking to brush up on your grammar skills, this post will provide a comprehensive guide to mastering predicate nominatives.
Predicate Nominatives
A subject complement is a complement that identifies or modifies the subject of a linking verb.
REMINDER
Some common linking verbs include forms of be (such as am, is, was, were, being, will be, and have been), appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, and turn.
A predicate nominative is a type of subject complement that identifies or refers to the subject of a linking verb.
EXAMPLES
- The Grangers were the first settlers in the region. [The noun settlers identifies the subject Grangers.]
- Who is the woman in the back row? [The pronoun Who refers to the subject woman.]
- The goal of the architects is to restore the building to its original condition. [The infinitive phrase to restore the building to its original condition functions as a noun and identifies the subject goal.]
NOTE
EXAMPLE
- What an interesting sculpture that is! [The noun sculpture identifies the subject that.]
Compound Predicate Nominatives
A predicate nominative may be compound.
EXAMPLES
- The colors of the rainbow are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. [Violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red identify the subject colors.]
- The top salespeople for the month were Brady and Ramona. [Brady and Ramona refer to the subject salespeople.]
Predicate Nominatives Quiz
For each of the following sentences, choose the predicate adjective.