Predicate Nominative: Definition, Usage, and Examples

A predicate nominative, also known as a predicate noun, is a noun or pronoun that renames or identifies the subject of a sentence. It follows a linking verb, such as is, are, was, were, become, or seem. In essence, it provides additional information about the subject, clarifying what the subject is. For example, in the sentence “My favorite color is blue,” the word “blue” is the predicate nominative because it identifies the subject “My favorite color.” Understanding predicate nominatives is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and clear sentences, especially when aiming for precision in writing and speaking. This grammatical structure helps to provide additional detail or clarification about the subject, enriching the quality and clarity of the description. Proper understanding is beneficial for students, writers, and anyone seeking to improve their communication skills.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Predicate Nominative
• Structural Breakdown
• Types of Predicate Nominatives
• Examples of Predicate Nominatives
• Usage Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of Predicate Nominative

A predicate nominative (also known as a predicate noun) is a word or group of words that functions as a noun and is located in the predicate of a sentence. Its primary role is to rename or further identify the subject of the sentence. It always follows a linking verb, which connects the subject to the predicate nominative. Linking verbs do not express action; instead, they describe a state of being or a condition. Common linking verbs include forms of to be (is, are, was, were, am, been, being), as well as verbs like become, seem, appear, look, feel, taste, and smell (when they describe a state rather than an action).

The predicate nominative provides essential information about the subject, essentially stating that the subject is something. Consider the sentence, “John is a doctor.” Here, “John” is the subject, “is” is the linking verb, and “doctor” is the predicate nominative. The predicate nominative “doctor” renames or identifies John, telling us his profession. Without the predicate nominative, the sentence would be incomplete in meaning, lacking crucial information about the subject.

The term “nominative” refers to the case of the noun or pronoun. In English, the nominative case is used for subjects and predicate nominatives. This means that the predicate nominative has the same grammatical case as the subject, reflecting their close relationship in the sentence structure. Understanding this relationship is vital for correctly identifying and using predicate nominatives in your own writing and speech. It is important to remember that the predicate nominative and the subject are essentially the same thing, just expressed in different parts of the sentence.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of a sentence containing a predicate nominative typically follows a specific pattern: Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Nominative. The subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. The linking verb connects the subject to the predicate nominative. The predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject. Let’s break down each component:

Subject

The subject of the sentence performs the action or is described by the sentence. It is usually a noun or pronoun. For instance, in the sentence “She is a teacher,” “She” is the subject.

Linking Verb

Linking verbs connect the subject to the predicate nominative. They do not show action but rather a state of being or condition. Common linking verbs are forms of “to be” (is, are, was, were, am, been, being), and other verbs like “become,” “seem,” “appear,” “look,” “feel,” “taste,” and “smell” (when used to describe a state). For example, in the sentence “The soup tastes delicious,” “tastes” is the linking verb.

Predicate Nominative

The predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows the linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. It provides additional information about what the subject is. For example, in the sentence “My brother is an engineer,” “engineer” is the predicate nominative because it identifies what my brother is.

Consider this example: “The winner is she.” “The winner” is the subject, “is” is the linking verb, and “she” is the predicate nominative. The predicate nominative “she” identifies who the winner is. It’s crucial to note the relationship between the subject and the predicate nominative; they refer to the same entity. Another example is “That man became a legend.” Here, “That man” is the subject, “became” is the linking verb, and “a legend” is the predicate nominative, identifying what the man became.

Types of Predicate Nominatives

Predicate nominatives can be categorized based on their form and function. Understanding these distinctions can help you identify them more easily in sentences.

Nouns as Predicate Nominatives

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. When a noun functions as a predicate nominative, it renames or identifies the subject of the sentence. For example, in the sentence “My goal is success,” the word “success” is a noun serving as the predicate nominative.

Pronouns as Predicate Nominatives

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or noun phrase. When a pronoun functions as a predicate nominative, it replaces the subject of the sentence. Subject pronouns (I, he, she, it, we, they, you) are used as predicate nominatives. For instance, in the sentence “The winner is she,” the pronoun “she” is the predicate nominative.

Noun Phrases as Predicate Nominatives

A noun phrase is a group of words that functions as a noun. It typically includes a noun and any modifiers, such as adjectives or articles. When a noun phrase functions as a predicate nominative, it renames or identifies the subject of the sentence with a more descriptive phrase. For example, in the sentence “Her dream is to become a doctor,” “to become a doctor” is the noun phrase serving as the predicate nominative.

Compound Predicate Nominatives

A compound predicate nominative consists of two or more nouns or pronouns that rename or identify the subject. These are usually connected by a coordinating conjunction such as “and” or “or.” For example, in the sentence “My favorite sports are soccer and basketball,” “soccer and basketball” form the compound predicate nominative.

Examples of Predicate Nominatives

To further illustrate the concept, here are several examples of predicate nominatives in different contexts. These examples are categorized to show how predicate nominatives function with various linking verbs and sentence structures.

Examples with “is”

The following table provides examples using the linking verb “is.”

Sentence	Subject	Linking Verb	Predicate Nominative
My favorite food is pizza.	My favorite food	is	pizza
The capital of France is Paris.	The capital of France	is	Paris
His job is teaching.	His job	is	teaching
Her greatest fear is failure.	Her greatest fear	is	failure
Their main concern is safety.	Their main concern	is	safety
The problem is procrastination.	The problem	is	procrastination
Our objective is success.	Our objective	is	success
The answer is honesty.	The answer	is	honesty
My passion is writing.	My passion	is	writing
Her talent is singing.	Her talent	is	singing
His hobby is photography.	His hobby	is	photography
The key is perseverance.	The key	is	perseverance
The goal is completion.	The goal	is	completion
The truth is revelation.	The truth	is	revelation
The reason is explanation.	The reason	is	explanation
My belief is justice.	My belief	is	justice
Her strength is resilience.	Her strength	is	resilience
His virtue is kindness.	His virtue	is	kindness
The solution is compromise.	The solution	is	compromise
The purpose is understanding.	The purpose	is	understanding
The cause is dedication.	The cause	is	dedication
The challenge is innovation.	The challenge	is	innovation
The focus is improvement.	The focus	is	improvement
The aim is excellence.	The aim	is	excellence

Examples with “are”

The following table provides examples using the linking verb “are.”

Sentence	Subject	Linking Verb	Predicate Nominative
My favorite hobbies are reading and gardening.	My favorite hobbies	are	reading and gardening
The students are scholars.	The students	are	scholars
Those flowers are roses.	Those flowers	are	roses
These books are classics.	These books	are	classics
My best friends are John and Mary.	My best friends	are	John and Mary
The players are athletes.	The players	are	athletes
Those buildings are skyscrapers.	Those buildings	are	skyscrapers
These fruits are oranges.	These fruits	are	oranges
The movies are comedies.	The movies	are	comedies
These songs are hits.	These songs	are	hits
My pets are cats and dogs.	My pets	are	cats and dogs
The mountains are ranges.	The mountains	are	ranges
These tools are necessities.	These tools	are	necessities
The rules are guidelines.	The rules	are	guidelines
My goals are achievements.	My goals	are	achievements
Those cars are antiques.	Those cars	are	antiques
These issues are challenges.	These issues	are	challenges
The solutions are possibilities.	The solutions	are	possibilities
My dreams are ambitions.	My dreams	are	ambitions
The answers are insights.	The answers	are	insights
The tasks are responsibilities.	The tasks	are	responsibilities
Those trees are evergreens.	Those trees	are	evergreens
These questions are inquiries.	These questions	are	inquiries
The reasons are explanations.	The reasons	are	explanations

Examples with Other Linking Verbs

The following table provides examples using linking verbs other than “is” and “are,” such as “become,” “seem,” and “appear.”

Sentence	Subject	Linking Verb	Predicate Nominative
He became a doctor.	He	became	a doctor
She seems a good person.	She	seems	a good person
It appears a mistake.	It	appears	a mistake
The weather became a storm.	The weather	became	a storm
He remained a bachelor.	He	remained	a bachelor
She grew a leader.	She	grew	a leader
The situation turned a crisis.	The situation	turned	a crisis
He stayed a friend.	He	stayed	a friend
She proved an asset.	She	proved	an asset
The night became a nightmare.	The night	became	a nightmare
He turned a hero.	He	turned	a hero
She emerged a victor.	She	emerged	a victor
The plan seemed a success.	The plan	seemed	a success
He looked a winner.	He	looked	a winner
She sounded a professional.	She	sounded	a professional
The idea appeared a solution.	The idea	appeared	a solution
He acted a fool.	He	acted	a fool
She behaved a lady.	She	behaved	a lady
The project proved a challenge.	The project	proved	a challenge
It became a tradition.	It	became	a tradition
He turned a mentor.	He	turned	a mentor
She evolved a pioneer.	She	evolved	a pioneer
The rumor seemed a fabrication.	The rumor	seemed	a fabrication
He looked a celebrity.	He	looked	a celebrity

Usage Rules

Using predicate nominatives correctly involves understanding a few key rules. These rules ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing.

Agreement in Number

The predicate nominative should agree in number with the subject of the sentence. If the subject is singular, the predicate nominative should also be singular. If the subject is plural, the predicate nominative should be plural. For example:

• Singular: The book is a novel.
• Plural: The books are novels.

Use of Subject Pronouns

When a pronoun is used as a predicate nominative, it should be a subject pronoun (I, he, she, it, we, they, you), not an object pronoun (me, him, her, it, us, them, you). For example:

• Correct: The winner is she.
• Incorrect: The winner is her.

Linking Verbs Only

Predicate nominatives only follow linking verbs. They do not follow action verbs. If the verb expresses an action, the noun or pronoun that follows is likely a direct object or indirect object, not a predicate nominative. For example:

• Correct (linking verb): She is a doctor.
• Incorrect (action verb): She hit the ball. (Here, “ball” is a direct object.)

Compound Predicate Nominatives

When using compound predicate nominatives (two or more nouns or pronouns), ensure that they all relate to the subject and are connected by a coordinating conjunction like “and” or “or.” For example:

• Correct: My favorite colors are blue and green.

Formal vs. Informal Usage

In formal writing, it is essential to adhere strictly to the rule of using subject pronouns as predicate nominatives. However, in informal speech, it is common to hear object pronouns used. For example:

• Formal: It is I.
• Informal: It’s me.

While “It’s me” is widely accepted in casual conversation, “It is I” is grammatically correct in formal contexts.

Distinguishing Predicate Nominatives from Direct Objects

One common point of confusion is distinguishing between predicate nominatives and direct objects. Both follow verbs, but they have different functions. A predicate nominative follows a linking verb and renames the subject. A direct object follows an action verb and receives the action. Consider these examples:

• Predicate Nominative: Sarah is a teacher. (“is” is a linking verb; “teacher” renames Sarah.)
• Direct Object: Sarah teaches English. (“teaches” is an action verb; “English” receives the action of teaching.)

To determine whether a noun is a predicate nominative or a direct object, identify the verb. If it’s a linking verb, the noun is likely a predicate nominative. If it’s an action verb, the noun is likely a direct object. However, be aware that some verbs can function as both linking verbs and action verbs depending on the sentence. For example:

• Linking Verb: The soup tastes delicious. (“tastes” describes the state of the soup.)
• Action Verb: I taste the soup. (“taste” describes the action of tasting.)

Common Mistakes

Several common mistakes occur when using predicate nominatives. Recognizing these errors can help you avoid them in your own writing.

Using Object Pronouns Instead of Subject Pronouns

A frequent mistake is using object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) instead of subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, they) as predicate nominatives. For example:

• Incorrect: The winner is her.
• Correct: The winner is she.

Incorrect Verb Agreement

Another common error is failing to ensure that the predicate nominative agrees in number with the subject. For example:

• Incorrect: My favorite hobbies is gardening.
• Correct: My favorite hobbies are gardening.

Using Action Verbs Instead of Linking Verbs

Using an action verb instead of a linking verb can lead to incorrect sentence structure. Predicate nominatives must follow linking verbs. For example:

• Incorrect: He kicked the ball a player.
• Correct: He is a player.

Misidentifying Predicate Nominatives

Sometimes, it can be challenging to identify the predicate nominative, especially in complex sentences. It is crucial to correctly identify the linking verb and the noun or pronoun that renames or identifies the subject. For example:

• Confusing: She considers him a friend. (Here, “friend” is an object complement, not a predicate nominative.)
• Correct: He is a friend.

Confusing Predicate Nominatives with Predicate Adjectives

Predicate nominatives are often confused with predicate adjectives. Both follow linking verbs, but they have different functions. A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that renames the subject, while a predicate adjective is an adjective that describes the subject. Consider these examples:

• Predicate Nominative: John is a doctor. (“doctor” is a noun that renames John.)
• Predicate Adjective: John is tall. (“tall” is an adjective that describes John.)

To differentiate between predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives, ask yourself what the word does. If it renames the subject, it’s a predicate nominative. If it describes the subject, it’s a predicate adjective.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of predicate nominatives with these practice exercises. Identify the predicate nominative in each sentence.

Exercise 1

Question	Answer
1. My favorite sport is basketball.	basketball
2. The capital of Italy is Rome.	Rome
3. She is a teacher.	teacher
4. The winner is she.	she
5. My goal is success.	success
6. They are students.	students
7. He became a lawyer.	lawyer
8. It seems a good idea.	a good idea
9. The flowers are roses.	roses
10. My belief is justice.	justice

Exercise 2

Question	Answer
1. Those books are classics.	classics
2. My best friend is John.	John
3. The players are athletes.	athletes
4. Those buildings are skyscrapers.	skyscrapers
5. These fruits are oranges.	oranges
6. The movie is a comedy.	a comedy
7. These songs are hits.	hits
8. My pets are cats.	cats
9. The mountains are ranges.	ranges
10. These tools are necessities.	necessities

Exercise 3

Fill in the blank with an appropriate predicate nominative.

Question	Answer
1. My favorite subject is __________.	(Example: math)
2. The president is __________.	(Example: a leader)
3. My dream is to become __________.	(Example: an artist)
4. They are __________.	(Example: friends)
5. The city is __________.	(Example: beautiful)
6. He will become __________.	(Example: a manager)
7. The food tastes __________.	(Example: delicious)
8. The solution is __________.	(Example: simple)
9. My biggest fear is __________.	(Example: failure)
10. The answer is __________.	(Example: honesty)

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, there are more complex aspects of predicate nominatives to explore. These include nuanced usage and variations in sentence structure.

Elliptical Constructions

In some sentences, the linking verb may be omitted in elliptical constructions. In these cases, the predicate nominative is implied but not explicitly stated. For example:

• Full sentence: He is a doctor, and she is a teacher.
• Elliptical: He is a doctor, and she, a teacher.

In the elliptical sentence, the linking verb “is” is omitted after “she,” but “teacher” still functions as a predicate nominative.

Inverted Sentences

In inverted sentences, the subject and verb are reversed. This can sometimes make it more challenging to identify the predicate nominative. For example:

• Normal: My passion is writing.
• Inverted: Writing is my passion.

In the inverted sentence, “writing” is still the predicate nominative, even though it appears at the beginning of the sentence.

Complex Sentence Structures

Predicate nominatives can also appear in complex sentences with multiple clauses. Identifying them requires careful analysis of the sentence structure. For example:

• Complex: The reason he succeeded is because he is a hard worker.

In this sentence, “a hard worker” is the predicate nominative, renaming the subject “The reason he succeeded.”

Predicate Nominatives with Infinitives and Gerunds

Infinitives (to + verb) and gerunds (verb + -ing) can function as predicate nominatives, adding layers of complexity to sentence structure. When an infinitive or gerund is used as a predicate nominative, it renames the subject with a verbal phrase. For example:

• Infinitive: Her ambition is to travel the world. (“to travel the world” renames “Her ambition.”)
• Gerund: His favorite activity is reading novels. (“reading novels” renames “His favorite activity.”)

These constructions allow for more descriptive and nuanced expressions, making them valuable tools for advanced writers.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about predicate nominatives.

1. What is the difference between a predicate nominative and a predicate adjective?

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that renames or identifies the subject, while a predicate adjective is an adjective that describes the subject. Both follow linking verbs, but their functions are different. For example, in “John is a doctor,” “doctor” is a predicate nominative, whereas in “John is tall,” “tall” is a predicate adjective.

2. How do I identify a linking verb?

Linking verbs connect the subject to the predicate nominative or predicate adjective. They do not show action but rather a state of being or condition. Common linking verbs include forms of “to be” (is, are, was, were, am, been, being), and other verbs like “become,” “seem,” “appear,” “look,” “feel,” “taste,” and “smell” (when used to describe a state).

3. Can a predicate nominative be a phrase?

Yes, a predicate nominative can be a noun phrase or a pronoun phrase. It is a group of words that functions as a noun or pronoun and renames or identifies the subject. For example, “Her dream is to become a doctor,” where “to become a doctor” is a noun phrase functioning as a predicate nominative.

4. Why is it important to use subject pronouns as predicate nominatives?

Using subject pronouns (I, he, she, it, we, they, you) as predicate nominatives maintains grammatical correctness and clarity. Object pronouns (me, him, her, it, us, them, you) are used for direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions, so using them as predicate nominatives is grammatically incorrect.

5. What happens if the subject and predicate nominative do not agree in number?

If the subject and predicate nominative do not agree in number, the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The verb should agree with the subject, and the predicate nominative should match the number of the subject. For example, “My favorite hobbies are gardening” is correct, while “My favorite hobbies is gardening” is incorrect.

6. Are predicate nominatives common in everyday speech?

Yes, predicate nominatives are common in everyday speech, although people may not always be consciously aware of them. Sentences like “I am a student” or “He is a teacher” are examples of everyday sentences that use predicate nominatives.

7. How can I improve my ability to identify predicate nominatives?

Practice identifying the subject, linking verb, and the word or phrase that renames or identifies the subject. Pay attention to the structure of sentences and the function of different parts of speech. Reading and analyzing well-written sentences can also help improve your understanding.

8. Can a sentence have more than one predicate nominative?

Yes, a sentence can have more than one predicate nominative, often connected by a coordinating conjunction like “and” or “or.” This is known as a compound predicate nominative. For example:

• My favorite sports are soccer and basketball.

In this sentence, “soccer and basketball” form the compound predicate nominative, both renaming the subject “My favorite sports.”

Conclusion

Understanding predicate nominatives is essential for mastering English grammar. A predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject of a sentence and follows a linking verb, such as is, are, was, or become. By understanding the structure and usage rules, you can avoid common mistakes and write with greater clarity and precision. Remember to ensure agreement in number between the subject and predicate nominative, use subject pronouns correctly, and distinguish predicate nominatives from other sentence elements like direct objects and predicate adjectives. Continuous practice and attention to detail will help you master this important grammatical concept.

By reviewing the definitions, examples, and practice exercises provided, you can strengthen your understanding of predicate nominatives and improve your overall writing skills. Pay close attention to the linking verbs and the nouns or pronouns that follow them. With consistent effort, you will confidently identify and use predicate nominatives in your writing and speech. Remember, grammar is a tool to enhance communication, and mastering predicate nominatives will contribute to your ability to express yourself effectively.