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The Predicate Nominative
Continuing with our study of the four complements, today we will examine the first of what are called
subject complements. So far we have learned that the direct object and the indirect object are used with action
verbs. The two subject complements, the predicate nominative and the predicate adjective, are used only with
linking verbs. They are called subject complements because they refer back to the subject of the sentence, or help
describe it better. In order to accurately identify subject complements, we must first renew our acquaintance with
the linking verbs.
Linking verbs include all forms of the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been), as well as
those verbs that have to do with the five senses (look, seem, appear, sound, smell, taste, feel), and those associated
with gradual transition (become, grow) and stasis (remain, stay).
If you are thinking your precious knowledge of linking verbs might have leaked away, you can review
the handout from earlier this year entitled, “The Verb.”
The Predicate Nominative: A Definition
The first of the two subject complements is the predicate nominative. The name of this construction helps
explain what it is. A nominative refers to something in the subject of the sentence, while the predicate describes
everything that is not part of the subject of the sentence. Put together, we come up with something that refers to
the subject, yet is in the predicate of the sentence. More specifically,
The predicate nominative is a noun or a pronoun that refers back to or explains the subject of a sentence.
It always follows a linking verb.
How to Find a Predicate Nominative
To find the PN, perform the same kind of test you do when locating a direct object. In other words, put the
simple subject and verb together, and then ask yourself, “…what?” or “…who?” Let’s look at some sample
sentences below.
• Hot Food last week was chicken. First we ask ourselves if there is a linking verb in this sentence. The answer is yes;
the verb is “was” which is one of the being verbs. Put the simple subject and verb together to come up with “Hot Food
was.” Hot Food was what? The answer is “chicken.” And because pizza is a word that refers back to the subject and
helps further describe it, you have discovered the PN.
• She will definitely become a lawyer. First we ask ourselves if there is a linking verb in this sentence. The answer is
yes; the verb is “become.” Again, putting the subject and verb together, and forming a question, we have “She will
become what?” The answer is “lawyer,” a word that refers back to the subject and further describes it.
• The wide receiver caught the pass. What is the predicate nominative in this sentence?
• My neighbors were once Olympic athletes. What is the predicate nominative in this sentence?
The Predicate Nominative “In a Nutshell”
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A predicate nominative is a noun or a pronoun that refers back to or explains the subject of a sentence. It
always follows a linking verb.
To find a predicate nominative, locate the linking verb and see if there is a noun or pronoun that follows it
and refers back to, or further describes, the subject of the sentence.
A predicate nominative can never be within a prepositional phrase. For example, the sentence “I am in the
basement” has no predicate nominative in it, even though there is a linking verb, “am.” Basement cannot be
the predicate nominative because it is the object of the preposition “in.”
A predicate nominative can be compound; in other words there can be more than one of these subject
complements following a linking verb. Example: Two classroom representatives have been Ralph and Julie. In this
sentence, Ralph and Julie are both predicate nominatives because they follow a linking verb and help describe
the subject.
Identifying Predicate Nominatives
Directions: Read each sentence, then write the predicate nominative(s) in the blank to the right. If there is no
predicate nominative in the sentence, write “None.”
1.
I am the walrus
2.
You seem a decent fellow.
3.
The weather this month has been rainy.
4.
My parents were hippies back in the day.
5.
This is none of your business.
6.
The rookie pilot safely landed the airplane.
7.
The ugly duckling eventually became a swan.
8.
Our dog is a Labrador retriever.
9.
During their date, Jeremy was being a complete jerk.
10. His favorite hobbies were cooking and ceramics.