prednoun adj

The (Proud) Predicate Nouns/Adjectives Page:

In the verb discussion elsewhere in this program, there is mention of "linking" verbs.

I know you have a quick, inquiring mind, and you immediately think, "I wonder what linking verbs link?"

I am prepared to tell you: Linking verbs link the subject of a sentence to a predicate noun or predicate adjective.

Perhaps, more of an explanation is necessary.

Please fill in the two blanks below.

In the blank on top of the "is" put a noun.

In the blank on bottom, put either another noun or an adjective.

Is this fun or what! Do a bunch more. Try not to be naughty.

See the word you wrote in the bottom blank?

If you put in a noun, we call it a "predicate noun."

Sometimes, when we feel like being more academic, we call it a "predicate nominative."

If you wrote in an adjective, we call that a . . .? Yeah! Predicate Adjective.

A predicate noun or predicate adjective is the word on the other side of a linking verb that links with the subject.

Bernie feels good today.

"good" is the predicate adjective.

Mary Nogginoodle is the class paper airplane champion.

"champion" is the predicate noun.

The gun you are pointing at me looks dangerous, Fenster.

"dangerous" is the predicate adjective.

Catching on?

So what: You can do a lot to a piece of writing by deciding whether to use action or linking verbs.

If , I had written this example:

Harry (is) ugly.

I could change the linking verb (is) into some sort of action verb and say:

Harry's zits oozed over his twisted face.

"oozed" combined with a few other details gives us a crack at writing a more detailed image than "is" will do.

Check out the E-Prime Commentary for more about what happens when you change linking to action verbs.

Try the sentence change yourself.

Type in the blank below a revision of the sentence you created above. The one where you filled in the blanks.

This time change the linking verb to an action verb.

Did you notice that I wrote more about verbs than I did about predicate nouns/adjectives?

If you figure out why I did that, please email me and explain it to me.

To return to Step Two, please click : HERE