Predicate Nouns and Adjectives (+ diagramming)

Predicate Nouns and Predicate Adjectives

Action verbs MAY have a direct object, but Linking verbs WILL have one of the following:

• a predicate noun

• a predicate adjective

Linking verbs will be either...

• one of the words from the "be familY" be, being, been, am, are, was, were, is

• One of the BRATS - become, remain, appear, turn, seem, grow

• One of our five senses - tastes, smells, looks, sounds, feels

Multiple Select

Place a check beside all sentences that have a linking verb.

• She has adopted three cats.

• They are nice people.

• He was singing on the sidewalk.

• He always seems sad.

• The soup smelled good.

She is a teacher.

In this sentence, the word is is a linking verb. The word teacher is a noun. We call this noun a predicate noun. Linking verbs always LINK the subject to a predicate noun or a predicate adjective.

They are kind.

In this sentence the word are is a linking verb. It is linking the subject They to an adjective, kind. The word kind is a predicate adjective.

They are nice people.

In this sentence, the word are is the linking verb. Then, we see both an adjective and a noun. Nice is an adjective. People is a noun. However, always remember that nouns trumph adjectives when it comes to predicate nouns and predicate adjectives. Therefore, there is a predicate noun, people. The word nice is just a regular adjective describing people.

Multiple Choice

My dad is a fireman. What is the word fireman?

• predicate noun

• predicate adjective

Multiple Choice

She was so sad. What is the word sad in this sentence?

• predicate noun

• predicate adjective

Multiple Choice

True or False? All sentences have predicate nouns or predicate adjectives.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

True or False? Sentences with action verbs cannot have predicate nouns or predicate adjectives.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

She was eating spaghetti. Which of the following does this sentence have?

• direct object

• predicate noun

• predicate adjective

Multiple Choice

They were the apple of her eye. Which of the following does this sentence have?

• direct object

• predicate noun

• predicate adjective

Watch the video to the left to review the thought process and format for diagramming sentences with subject complements.

​Review the Process

Diagramming Tutorial

Draw

Diagram this sentence in the space provided:

The program was humorous.

Note: I am grading for accuracy in where you place the words NOT on how neat or pretty your diagrams are :)

Draw

Type the following sentence in the space provided:

Don is an excellent worker.

Draw

Type the following sentence in the space provided:

Henry was the oldest player on the team.