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Sentence Diagramming
Part 4:
Linking Verbs,
Predicate Adjectives, and
Predicate Nominatives
What is a Predicate Nominative?

A Predicate Nominative:




Is a NOUN or PRONOUN
That follows a LINKING VERB
And that refers back to the SUBJECT of the sentence
Is sometimes called a “Predicate Noun”
Examples:
1. Jadier Molina is the catcher.
Linking verb
Predicate nominative
(noun)
2. The Cardinals are a team.
Linking verb
Predicate nominative
(noun)
Diagramming Predicate Nominatives

A PREDICATE NOMINATIVE (Predicate Noun) is
just like a direct object, except:



It follows a LINKING VERB.
It is diagrammed on the baseline with the subject
and verb.
A diagonal line separates the verb and the
predicate nominative.
Example: Jadier Molina is the catcher.
Jadier Molina
subject - noun
is
linking verb
catcher
predicate nominative
More Predicate Nominative Practice
1. Tony LaRusa is the team manager.
Tony LaRusa
subject
is
linking verb
manager
Predicate
nominative
2. The Cardinals are the winners.
Cardinals
subject
are
linking verb
winners
Predicate
nominative
3. The outfielders were an embarrassment.
outfielders
subject
were
linking verb
embarrassment
Predicate
nominative
What is a Predicate Adjective?

A Predicate Adjective is:



An ADJECTIVE (describing word)
That follows a LINKING VERB, and
describes the SUBJECT of the sentence.
Example: The umpire is terrible.
umpire
subject - noun
is
linking verb
terrible
predicate adjective
More Predicate Adjective Practice:
1. The crowd was fanatical.
crowd
subject
was
linking verb
fanatical
Predicate
Adjective
2. This game is exciting!
game
subject
is
linking verb
exciting
Predicate
Adjective
3. The new stadium will be awesome!
stadium
subject
will be
linking verb
awesome
Predicate
Adjective
PA & PN vs. Direct Objects?

Predicate Nominatives (PN) and Predicate
Adjectives (PA) are similar to direct objects
(DO), except:




They follow a linking verb,
They refer back to the subject (D.O. does not)
They are diagrammed with a diagonal line.
When determining a PA, PN, or DO, always:
***LOOK AT THE VERB***
Linking Verb = PA or PN
Action Verb = DO
PA, PN, & DO Practice:
1. The third-base coach was flabbergasted!
was
coach
subject
linking verb
flabbergasted
Predicate
Adjective
2. The St. Louis Cardinals scored nine runs in the eighth inning.
Cardinals
subject
scored
action verb
runs
Direct
Object
3. Matt Morris should have been the pitcher.
Matt Morris
should have been
pitcher
subject
linking verb
(Verb Phrase)
Predicate
Nominative