The predicate nominative is the noun following a linking verb that restates or stands for the subject.
Typically, a predicate nominative has the same value or grammatical weight as the subject.
[In the following examples, the predicate nominative is bold and the subject is underlined.]
- At the end of the tournament, Tiger Woods was the leader.
The subject and the predicate nominative are essentially the same thing.
- For many of us on the team, the fans were an embarrassment.
EMBARRASSMENT restates the subject FANS.
- When the plot is discovered, Andrea will be a suspect.
Look for the subject, decide whether the verb indicates a state of being and find out what “state” the subject is in.
- Before the announcement, they were the favorites to win the contest.
Once you identify the verb, ask whether the verb was done to someone or something. For example: Did THEY do something? No, they just were. What they were FAVORITES is the predicate nominative.
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Predicate nominatives may follow linking verbs that are not the verb TO BE.
[In the following examples, the predicate nominative is bold and the subject is underlined.]
- During the heat wave, dehydration became a threat for active citizens.
Nothing really happened here. The subject DEHYDRATION is something A THREAT.
- Serena’s brother remains the leader in sales for this region.
To determine whether the subject is being linked to the predicate nominative, replace the verb with the correct form of the verb TO BE. If it works, the verb is linking and if the word it links to the subject is a noun, it is the predicate nominative.
- The assistant’s attitude seems a mystery to everyone involved.
Nothing happened. The subject ATTITUDE is A MYSTERY.
What is missing?
Anything you don’t understand? Need more examples? Use the comment section to tell us what would help you.
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Thanks,I really needed this for a school assigned homework worksheet.Thank You very much!!!!!
what will be the use of the pronoun in the nominative case
in the predicate nominative?
I’m just confuse…
does the Predicate nominative ALWAYS come AFTER the subject?
I think you’ve left out the only area that could ever cause confusion: pronouns. No one could ever make a mistake with the examples you have given, but whether to use “I” or “me,” “he” or “him, “she” or “her, etc.” is always a problem. Fortunately for my piece of mind, I decided years ago to use the construction that wouldn’t cause people to think of me as a pedant. In other words I choose to use the one that sounds right rather than the grammatically correct but jarring to the ear constructions. I will never say, “This is he,” “It is I,” etc. I much prefer “That’s me,” or “It’s me”. However, I still think you should know the rules before breaking them. If you break them without knowing that you have, you’re an ignoramus, but if you willfully break them with the full knowledge of your “offense,” you’re just a rebel. Rebels aren’t as romantic as they once were, but they’re still to be preferred to either ignoramuses or pedants.
The information you mention — pronoun case — is available under “case” http://www.grammaruntied.com/blog/?cat=38
Not sure you can say “always” about anything in English. Let’s just say, “most of the time.” Typically a predicate nominative before a subject ends up sounding like Yoda. “Jedi is Luke.”
Hi! Is there any list for predicate nominitives? I have a test and I really need an answer Fast! I will appreciate an answer as soon as possible!