Predicate Nominative: Definition, Usage, and Examples

Understanding the predicate nominative is crucial for mastering sentence structure and improving your writing skills. It’s a grammatical element that often confuses English language learners, but with a clear explanation and plenty of examples, it becomes much easier to grasp.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide to predicate nominatives, covering their definition, structure, usage rules, common mistakes, and offering practice exercises to solidify your understanding. Whether you’re a student, a writer, or simply someone looking to enhance their grammar knowledge, this guide will offer valuable insights and practical tools.

The predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that renames or identifies the subject of a sentence after a linking verb. Recognizing and using predicate nominatives correctly enhances sentence clarity and precision.

This article aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to confidently identify and utilize predicate nominatives in your writing and speech. By exploring various examples and practical applications, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of this important grammatical concept.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Predicate Nominative
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories of Predicate Nominatives
• Examples of Predicate Nominatives
• Usage Rules for Predicate Nominatives
• Common Mistakes with Predicate Nominatives
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Complex Sentences and Predicate Nominatives
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Conclusion

Definition of Predicate Nominative

A predicate nominative (also called a subject complement) is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject of the sentence. It provides additional information about the subject, essentially stating that the subject is that noun or pronoun. The key is that the linking verb connects the subject to the predicate nominative, establishing an equivalence between the two.

Unlike a direct object, which receives the action of the verb, a predicate nominative does not receive action. Instead, it completes the meaning of the linking verb by providing a clearer understanding of the subject. Linking verbs are verbs that don’t express action but instead connect the subject to a word or phrase that describes or renames it. Common linking verbs include be (is, am, are, was, were, been, being), become, seem, appear, look, sound, smell, taste, and feel.

Predicate nominatives are always in the nominative case, which is the form of a noun or pronoun used for the subject of a verb. This is why they are called “nominative.” This contrasts with objective case pronouns, which are used for direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.

Classification and Function

Predicate nominatives function as identifiers or renamers of the subject. They provide essential information about the subject, clarifying its identity or nature.

Without the predicate nominative, the sentence would be incomplete or lack a crucial element of meaning. They are a critical part of the predicate, which is the part of the sentence that contains the verb and provides information about the subject.

The predicate nominative is a type of subject complement. A subject complement is a word or group of words that follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject.

A predicate adjective is another type of subject complement, but it is an adjective that describes the subject rather than a noun or pronoun that renames it. For example, in the sentence “The sky is blue,” “blue” is a predicate adjective.

Contexts in Which Predicate Nominatives Appear

Predicate nominatives are commonly found in sentences that define, classify, or identify the subject. They are used to provide essential information that clarifies the subject’s role, identity, or nature.

They appear in various contexts, including:

• Definitions: “My favorite hobby is reading.”
• Classifications: “That animal is a mammal.”
• Identifications: “The winner of the race was John.”
• Descriptions of state of being: “She became a doctor.”

Recognizing these common contexts can help you identify predicate nominatives more easily in your reading and writing. Understanding the function of linking verbs is also crucial, as they are the bridge that connects the subject and the predicate nominative.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a sentence containing a predicate nominative is as follows:

Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Nominative

The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or is being described. The linking verb connects the subject to the predicate nominative, and the predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject.

Let’s break down each element:

Subject

The subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. It can be a person, place, thing, or idea.

The subject usually appears at the beginning of the sentence, but it can sometimes be found in other positions, particularly in questions or sentences with inverted word order.

Examples of subjects:

• The dog is a golden retriever.
• She is my sister.
• My dream is to travel the world.

Linking Verb

The linking verb connects the subject to the predicate nominative. It does not express action but instead links the subject to a word or phrase that describes or renames it.

Common linking verbs include:

• Forms of “to be”: is, am, are, was, were, been, being
• Sense verbs (when describing a state, not an action): look, sound, smell, taste, feel
• Other linking verbs: become, seem, appear, remain, stay, grow

Examples of linking verbs in sentences with predicate nominatives:

• The flower is a rose.
• He became a teacher.
• The music sounds beautiful.

Predicate Nominative

The predicate nominative is the noun or pronoun that follows the linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. It must be in the nominative case and provide essential information about the subject.

Examples of predicate nominatives:

• The president is Mr. Smith.
• My favorite color is blue. (Note: While “blue” is often used as an adjective, here it functions as a noun representing the color itself.)
• The winners are they.

Types and Categories of Predicate Nominatives

Predicate nominatives can be classified into different categories based on their form and function. Understanding these categories can help you identify them more easily in sentences.

Nouns as Predicate Nominatives

Nouns are the most common type of predicate nominative. They can be proper nouns (names of specific people, places, or things) or common nouns (general names of people, places, or things).

Examples of nouns as predicate nominatives:

• The capital of France is Paris. (Proper noun)
• My favorite pet is a dog. (Common noun)
• The chef is a professional. (Common noun)

Pronouns as Predicate Nominatives

Pronouns can also function as predicate nominatives. However, it’s important to use the correct case (nominative case) for pronouns in this role. Common nominative case pronouns include I, he, she, it, we, they, and who.

Examples of pronouns as predicate nominatives:

• The winner is she.
• It is I who made the mistake. (More formal)
• The best students are we.

Noun Phrases as Predicate Nominatives

A noun phrase is a group of words that functions as a noun. It can include adjectives, articles, and other modifiers that describe the noun.

Examples of noun phrases as predicate nominatives:

• My favorite book is a tale of two cities.
• The main problem is a lack of communication.
• Her greatest achievement was the completion of her PhD.

Examples of Predicate Nominatives

To further illustrate the concept of predicate nominatives, let’s look at a variety of examples organized by the type of linking verb used.

Examples with “to be” verbs (is, am, are, was, were)

The verb “to be” is the most common linking verb. Here are some examples of sentences using “to be” verbs with predicate nominatives:

The following table illustrates different uses of the predicate nominative with the verb ‘to be’.

Sentence	Subject	Linking Verb	Predicate Nominative
The teacher is Mr. Jones.	The teacher	is	Mr. Jones
My favorite food is pizza.	My favorite food	is	pizza
The winners are they.	The winners	are	they
The capital of Canada is Ottawa.	The capital of Canada	is	Ottawa
Her dream was a successful career.	Her dream	was	a successful career
The problem is a lack of funding.	The problem	is	a lack of funding
The solution is more communication.	The solution	is	more communication
My best friend is Sarah.	My best friend	is	Sarah
The key to success is hard work.	The key to success	is	hard work
The movie was a complete disaster.	The movie	was	a complete disaster
The artist is Picasso.	The artist	is	Picasso
The play is Hamlet.	The play	is	Hamlet
The cause of the fire was arson.	The cause of the fire	was	arson
The answer is forty-two.	The answer	is	forty-two
The appointment is tomorrow.	The appointment	is	tomorrow
The truth is a bitter pill.	The truth	is	a bitter pill
The question is a matter of time.	The question	is	a matter of time
The hero is a firefighter.	The hero	is	a firefighter
The villain is a greedy businessman.	The villain	is	a greedy businessman
The challenge is a test of endurance.	The challenge	is	a test of endurance
The outcome is a surprise.	The outcome	is	a surprise
The result is a positive change.	The result	is	a positive change
The lesson is a valuable experience.	The lesson	is	a valuable experience
The journey is an adventure.	The journey	is	an adventure
The destination is a paradise.	The destination	is	a paradise

Examples with “become”

The verb “become” indicates a change of state. Here are some examples of sentences using “become” with predicate nominatives:

The following table shows examples with the linking verb ‘become’.

Sentence	Subject	Linking Verb	Predicate Nominative
He became a doctor.	He	became	a doctor
She became the CEO of the company.	She	became	the CEO of the company
The caterpillar became a butterfly.	The caterpillar	became	a butterfly
The rain became a storm.	The rain	became	a storm
The small stream became a raging river.	The small stream	became	a raging river
The student became a scholar.	The student	became	a scholar
The candidate became the president.	The candidate	became	the president
The apprentice became a master.	The apprentice	became	a master
The child became an adult.	The child	became	an adult
The amateur became a professional.	The amateur	became	a professional
The situation became a crisis.	The situation	became	a crisis
The problem became an obsession.	The problem	became	an obsession
The challenge became an opportunity.	The challenge	became	an opportunity
The rumor became a scandal.	The rumor	became	a scandal
The idea became a reality.	The idea	became	a reality
The dream became a nightmare.	The dream	became	a nightmare
The friendship became a romance.	The friendship	became	a romance
The business became a success.	The business	became	a success
The experiment became a failure.	The experiment	became	a failure
The mission became a disaster.	The mission	became	a disaster
The project became a burden.	The project	became	a burden
The game became a competition.	The game	became	a competition
The test became an evaluation.	The test	became	an evaluation
The meeting became a negotiation.	The meeting	became	a negotiation
The class became a discussion.	The class	became	a discussion

Examples with “seem” and “appear”

The verbs “seem” and “appear” indicate a state of being that is perceived or evident. Here are some examples:

The following table provides examples of sentences using ‘seem’ and ‘appear’ as linking verbs.

Sentence	Subject	Linking Verb	Predicate Nominative
He seems a nice person.	He	seems	a nice person
She appears the winner.	She	appears	the winner
The solution seems a good idea.	The solution	seems	a good idea
The problem appears a dead end.	The problem	appears	a dead end
The answer seems a mystery.	The answer	seems	a mystery
The forecast appears a certainty.	The forecast	appears	a certainty
The job seems a perfect fit.	The job	seems	a perfect fit
The task appears a challenge.	The task	appears	a challenge
The situation seems a dilemma.	The situation	seems	a dilemma
The experience appears a revelation.	The experience	appears	a revelation
The story seems a fairytale.	The story	seems	a fairytale
The plan appears a gamble.	The plan	appears	a gamble
The result seems a success.	The result	seems	a success
The outcome appears a failure.	The outcome	appears	a failure
The truth seems a lie.	The truth	seems	a lie
The reality appears a dream.	The reality	appears	a dream
The event seems a celebration.	The event	seems	a celebration
The meeting appears a formality.	The meeting	appears	a formality
The concert seems a masterpiece.	The concert	seems	a masterpiece
The performance appears a triumph.	The performance	appears	a triumph
The design seems a stroke of genius.	The design	seems	a stroke of genius
The invention appears a breakthrough.	The invention	appears	a breakthrough
The discovery seems a revelation.	The discovery	seems	a revelation
The solution appears a miracle.	The solution	appears	a miracle
The opportunity seems a godsend.	The opportunity	seems	a godsend

Examples with Sense Verbs (look, sound, smell, taste, feel)

Sense verbs can act as linking verbs when they describe a state of being rather than an action. For example, “The music sounds beautiful” (sounds describes the music) versus “She sounds the alarm” (sounds is an action).

Here are some examples:

The table below shows examples of sense verbs functioning as linking verbs.

Sentence	Subject	Linking Verb	Predicate Nominative
The idea sounds a plan.	The idea	sounds	a plan
The music sounds a symphony.	The music	sounds	a symphony
The performance sounds a masterpiece.	The performance	sounds	a masterpiece
The recipe tastes a success.	The recipe	tastes	a success
The food tastes a delight.	The food	tastes	a delight
The dish tastes an innovation.	The dish	tastes	an innovation
The fabric feels a luxury.	The fabric	feels	a luxury
The blanket feels a comfort.	The blanket	feels	a comfort
The texture feels a dream.	The texture	feels	a dream
The garden smells a paradise.	The garden	smells	a paradise
The flower smells a fragrance.	The flower	smells	a fragrance
The air smells a freshness.	The air	smells	a freshness
The design looks a marvel.	The design	looks	a marvel
The painting looks a masterpiece.	The painting	looks	a masterpiece
The view looks a dream.	The view	looks	a dream
The explanation sounds a solution.	The explanation	sounds	a solution
The story sounds a legend.	The story	sounds	a legend
The report sounds a warning.	The report	sounds	a warning
The cake tastes a celebration.	The cake	tastes	a celebration
The drink tastes a refreshment.	The drink	tastes	a refreshment
The material feels a treasure.	The material	feels	a treasure
The atmosphere feels a celebration.	The atmosphere	feels	a celebration
The perfume smells a secret.	The perfume	smells	a secret
The landscape looks a painting.	The landscape	looks	a painting
The structure looks a fortress.	The structure	looks	a fortress

Usage Rules for Predicate Nominatives

There are several rules to follow when using predicate nominatives to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Rule 1: Use the Nominative Case

The predicate nominative must always be in the nominative case. This means using the correct form of the pronoun (I, he, she, it, we, they, who) rather than the objective case (me, him, her, it, us, them, whom).

Correct: The winner is she.

Incorrect: The winner is her.

Rule 2: Linking Verb Agreement

The linking verb must agree in number with the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.

If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Correct: The problem is a lack of resources.

Correct: The problems are a lack of resources and poor management.

Rule 3: Clarity

Ensure that the predicate nominative clearly renames or identifies the subject. The relationship between the subject and the predicate nominative should be clear and unambiguous.

Clear: My favorite sport is tennis.

Unclear: It is tennis. (Without context, “it” is ambiguous.)

Rule 4: Formal vs. Informal Usage

In formal writing, it is generally preferred to use the nominative case pronoun after a linking verb, even if it sounds slightly awkward in casual conversation. For example, “It is I” is grammatically correct but sounds formal.

In informal conversation, “It’s me” is more common.

Formal: It is I who am responsible.

Informal: It’s me who is responsible.

Common Mistakes with Predicate Nominatives

One of the most common mistakes is using the objective case pronoun instead of the nominative case pronoun. Another common error involves subject-verb agreement.

Mistake 1: Using Objective Case Pronouns

Using objective case pronouns (me, him, her, us, them, whom) instead of nominative case pronouns (I, he, she, we, they, who) is a frequent error.

Incorrect: The best player is him.

Correct: The best player is he.

Mistake 2: Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Failing to make the linking verb agree with the subject in number is another common mistake.

Incorrect: The problems is a lack of communication.

Correct: The problems are a lack of communication.

Mistake 3: Unclear Reference

Using a predicate nominative that does not clearly rename or identify the subject can create confusion.

Unclear: It is a problem.

Clear: The main issue is a lack of funding.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of predicate nominatives with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Identify the Predicate Nominative

Identify the predicate nominative in each of the following sentences.

The following table contains practice sentences where you must identify the predicate nominative.

Sentence	Predicate Nominative
The capital of Italy is Rome.	Rome
My favorite author is Jane Austen.	Jane Austen
The winners are they.	they
Her ambition is a successful career.	a successful career
The solution is more communication.	more communication
The best student is she.	she
The problem is procrastination.	procrastination
The answer is perseverance.	perseverance
His goal is financial independence.	financial independence
The result was a complete surprise.	a complete surprise

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blank

Complete each sentence with an appropriate predicate nominative.

Complete the sentences in the following table with a fitting predicate nominative.

Sentence	Possible Answer
The teacher is __________.	Mrs. Smith
My favorite subject is __________.	History
The winners could be __________.	us
The problem seems to be __________.	a lack of funding
The solution might be __________.	more research
The best approach is __________.	collaboration
The biggest challenge is __________.	time management
The key to success is __________.	hard work
My dream is to become __________.	a doctor
The journey became __________.	an adventure

Exercise 3: Correct the Error

Identify and correct the error in each of the following sentences.

Identify and correct the errors related to predicate nominatives in the sentences below.

Incorrect Sentence	Corrected Sentence	Explanation
The winner is her.	The winner is she.	Use the nominative case pronoun.
The problems is a lack of funding.	The problems are a lack of funding.	Subject-verb agreement.
It was me who called.	It was I who called.	Formal usage requires nominative case.
The best student is them.	The best student is they.	Use the nominative case pronoun.
The solution are simple.	The solution is simple.	Subject-verb agreement.
The reason for the delay are unknown.	The reason for the delay is unknown.	Subject-verb agreement.
The cause of the problem were a faulty wire.	The cause of the problem was a faulty wire.	Subject-verb agreement.
The outcome of the election were unexpected.	The outcome of the election was unexpected.	Subject-verb agreement.
The most important thing are honesty.	The most important thing is honesty.	Subject-verb agreement.
The focus of the meeting were the budget.	The focus of the meeting was the budget.	Subject-verb agreement.

Advanced Topics: Complex Sentences and Predicate Nominatives

Predicate nominatives can also appear in more complex sentence structures, such as those involving subordinate clauses and compound subjects. Understanding how they function in

complex sentences requires a deeper grasp of grammatical relationships.

Subordinate Clauses as Predicate Nominatives

Sometimes, an entire subordinate clause can function as a predicate nominative. A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a sentence.

When a subordinate clause acts as a predicate nominative, it renames or identifies the subject of the main clause.

Example: The question is whether we can afford it.

In this sentence, “whether we can afford it” is a subordinate clause that serves as the predicate nominative, renaming the subject “the question.”

Predicate Nominatives with Compound Subjects

When a sentence has a compound subject (two or more subjects joined by a conjunction), the predicate nominative must agree in number with the compound subject. If the compound subject is plural, the predicate nominative must also be plural.

Example: John and Mary are the candidates.

Here, “John and Mary” is a compound subject, and “candidates” is a plural predicate nominative that agrees with the plural subject.

Sentences with Inverted Structure

In some sentences, the subject may follow the verb, creating an inverted structure. In these cases, it’s important to correctly identify the subject to ensure that the predicate nominative agrees with it.

Example: There is the problem.

In this sentence, “problem” is the subject, and “is” is the linking verb. Even though the subject follows the verb, “problem” is still what the sentence is about, and a predicate nominative would have to agree with it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about predicate nominatives.

What is the difference between a predicate nominative and a direct object?

How can I identify a linking verb?

Does a predicate nominative have to be a single word?

Is a predicate nominative the same as a subject complement?

Why is it important to use the correct case for pronouns as predicate nominatives?

Conclusion

Understanding predicate nominatives is essential for mastering English grammar and improving your writing skills. By recognizing their structure, function, and usage rules, you can enhance the clarity and precision of your sentences.

This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of predicate nominatives, covering their definition, structural breakdown, types, examples, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises. With this knowledge, you can confidently identify and use predicate nominatives in your writing and speech, leading to more effective communication.