Predicate Adjectives Explained

• An adjective modifies or describes a noun or pronoun, indicating a quality, quantity, or distinction.
• Adjectives typically answer: What kind? Which one? How many? How much?

Predicate Adjective Defined

• A predicate adjective is a descriptive adjective that follows a linking verb, providing essential details about the sentence's subject.
• Predicate adjectives are used with helping or linking verbs.

Helping and Linking Verbs

• Helping verbs work with a main verb to express tense, mood or voice.
• Primary helping verbs: to be (am, is, are, was, were, being, been, will be), to have (has, have, had, having, will have), to do (do, does, did, will do).
• Linking verbs connect the subject to the predicate adjective: become, feel, get, grow, keep, look, prove, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste.

Predicate Adjective vs. Predicate Nominative

• A predicate nominative (predicate noun) renames the subject after a linking verb; it is always a noun.
• Example: "My friend Rachel is a policewoman" where "policewoman" is a predicate nominative.
• A predicate adjective describes or modifies the subject after a linking verb; it is always an adjective.

Predicate Adjective vs. Attributive Adjective

• Attributive adjectives precede the noun they describe.
• Example: "Alexandre Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo has an extraordinary plot," where "extraordinary" is an attributive adjective.
• Predicate adjectives follow a linking verb in the predicate of the sentence.
• Some adjectives are primarily attributive, like elder, little, live, main, mere, sole.
• Example: "Leah was Rachel's elder sister."

Predicate Adjective Examples

• A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and modifies the subject.
• Example: "Especially in the winter snow, their lake house looks beautiful," where "beautiful" is the predicate adjective.
• Sentence pattern: subject + linking verb + predicate adjective.

Examples with the Verb "To Be"

• Forms of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were) often link nouns to adjectives.
• Example: "I am happy to be teaching English," where "happy" is the predicate adjective.

Examples with Other Verbs

• Common linking verbs include feel, get, grow, look, seem, smell, taste, sound, prove, stay, keep, remain.
• Example: "She feels happy today," where "happy" is the predicate adjective.
• "An umbrella will help you stay dry," where "dry" is the predicate adjective.

Predicate Adjective List

• Some adjectives are primarily used as predicate adjectives: ablaze, abreast, afire, afloat, afraid, aghast, aglow, alert, alike, alive, alone, aloof, ashamed, asleep, awake, aware, fond, unaware.
• Example: "We stayed awake all night," where "awake" is the predicate adjective.

Learn all about predicate adjectives. A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the sentence. Understand their function with examples.