Download Predicate Nouns and Linking Verbs

Predicate Nouns and Linking Verbs
Earlier, you learned that nouns can have different jobs, or functions, in a sentence. You have
studied four of these jobs already: A noun can be a subject, an object of a preposition, an
indirect object, or a direct object. You must remember, however, that a noun used as an object
of a preposition is not a basic part of a sentence pattern.
In the new sentence pattern, Pattern 4, there are only two nouns in the basic sentence pattern:
SN + LV + PrN.
The first noun is a subject noun and is still written as SN. The second noun is called a predicate
noun and is written with the abbreviation PrN.
Notice that in this new pattern, there is a different kind of verb in the basic sentence pattern, the
linking verb, and it will always be written with the abbreviation LV. A predicate noun will
always come after a linking verb.
1. A predicate noun is a noun or pronoun after the verb that means the same thing as the
subject.
2. A predicate noun is labeled as PrN.
3. To find the predicate noun, ask WHAT? or WHO? after the verb.
4. A predicate noun is often called a predicate nominative.
5. A predicate noun is always after a linking verb.
6. A linking verb links or connects the subject to a predicate noun or a predicate pronoun. It
acts much like an equal sign showing that the noun in the predicate refers back to the subject.
Example sentence for the exact words to say to find the linking verb and the predicate noun:
1. Dad is an excellent carpenter.
2. Who is an excellent carpenter? Dad – SN,)
3. What is being said about Dad? Dad is - V
4. Dad is what? carpenter – noun in the predicate
5. Does carpenter mean the same thing as Dad? Does carpenter = Dad? Yes.
6. Carpenter - PrN (Say: Carpenter - Predicate Noun)
7. Is - LV (Say: Is - linking Verb)
8. What kind of carpenter? excellent - Adj
9. An - Article
10. Check the verb: linking verb.
11. Check again for prepositional phrases.
12. No prepositional phrases.
13. Period, statement, declarative sentence
14. Go back to the verb - divide the complete subject from the complete predicate.
15. Is there an adverb exception? No.
16. Is this sentence in a natural or inverted order? Natural
LINKING VERBS
I. The Irregular Verb – To Be
You need to memorize and master the conjugation of to be.
am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Examples:
Present Tense: Singular: is (The boy is nice.)
am (I am here.) Am is used only with the pronoun I.
Plural:
are (The classes are interesting.)
Past Tense:
Singular: was (The person was alone.)
Plural:
were (Some ducks were on the lake.)
II. Linking Verbs
Linking verbs DO NOT SHOW ACTION. They link the subject with a noun or pronoun, or
they link the subject with an adjective (describing word). The noun or adjective in the predicate
part of the sentence refers back to the subject, either renaming it or describing it. Linking verbs
act as equal signs connecting the predicate noun or adjective to the subject.
Examples: His mother is a lawyer. mother = lawyer
The winners of the game were they in blue shirts. Winners = they
Marv became sick after the high jump. Mary = sick
Please note: There are three easy aspects of linking verbs:
A. Linking verbs never show action.
B. Linking verbs always link the subject with something.
C. Linking verbs appear as a separate list.
III. The following list of linking verbs must be memorized and mastered:
to feel
to taste
to look
to smell
to become
to seem
to sound
to grow
to remain
to appear
to stay
to be ( is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been)
To check if a verb (other than to be) is serving as a linking verb in a sentence, replace the verb
with a form of to be. If the sentence makes sense and the meaning is not changed, the verb serves
as a linking verb.
Example: Joe seemed angry today.
Joe was angry today.
(seemed is a linking verb)
Predicate Nouns (Nominatives)
I. Predicate Nominative:
A predicate nominative is a noun (naming word) or a pronoun (I, he, she, we, they, who, you, or
it) that is the same as the subject of the sentence. Predicate nominative = PrN.
SN LV
PrN
Examples: My dad is the track coach at school.
SN
LV
PrN
Mrs. Palmer became our teacher.
II. Predicate nominatives are easy to check.
Simply invert (flip the order of the words) in the sentence starting with the word after the verb in
a declarative sentence (the noun in the predicate) and the subject noun.
Example: My dad is the track coach at school.
Check: The track coach at school is my dad.
If a form of to be does not appear as the linking verb in the sentence, you will need to replace the
existing linking verb with an appropriate form of to be.
Example: Ms. Brody became our teacher.
Ms. Brody was our teacher.
Check: Our teacher was Ms. Brody.
III. A sentence may contain a compound predicate nominative.
SN
PrN
PrN
Example: My best subjects are history and math.
Check: Historv and math are my best subjects.
IV. Predicate Nominatives in questions:
In an interrogative sentence, the predicate nominative may be more difficult to find. Follow this
method: turn the question into a statement, mark the sentence (subject, verb, and predicate
nominative), and invert the statement to check it.
Example: Is Hannah the girl in the striped blouse?
SN
PrN
Hannah is the girl in the striped blouse.
SN
PrN
Check: The girl in the striped blouse is Hannah.
Example: Are you the new secretary for student council?
SN
PN.
You are the new secretary for student council.
SN
PrN
Check: The new secretary is you.
Note: Sometimes the present form of to be (is, am, are) must be inserted when checking for
predicate nominatives.
Example: Was Ralph the last person to see him?
SN
PrN
Ralph was the last person to see him.
SN
PrN
Check: The last person to see him was Ralph.
Example: Did your nephew become a doctor?
SN
PrN
Your nephew did become a doctor.
SN
PrN
Check: The doctor was your nephew.
SN
PrN
Was the doctor your nephew?
LINKING VERBS – An Activity With Predicate Nominatives
Directions: Place parentheses around any prepositional phrases. Label the subject (SN) and the
verb/verb phrase (LV). Label the predicate nominative(s) (PrN) in each sentence. Then, write the
inverted form of the sentence on the line provided.
SN LV PrN
Example: My sister is the girl (in the first row).
SN LV PrN
Check: The girl is my sister.
1. Emma was the winner of the contest.
______________________________________________________________________________
2. My favorite food is cherry pie.
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Our doctor was Dr. Paine.
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Their dessert was a banana split.
______________________________________________________________________________
5. My cousin is Charlene.
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Olga became my favorite aunt.
______________________________________________________________________________
7. The swimmers were Megan and her friend.
______________________________________________________________________________
8. My dog remained my best friend throughout life.
______________________________________________________________________________
9. Mrs. Coppin is the speaker today.
______________________________________________________________________________
10. Barry has been our neighbor for years.
______________________________________________________________________________
11. The history teacher is the track coach.
______________________________________________________________________________
12. Josh’s mom is the lady in the red suit.
______________________________________________________________________________
13. Superman is my hero.
______________________________________________________________________________