Lesson 104

Parts of the Sentence - Predicate Nominative

A predicate nominative or predicate noun completes a linking verbLinking verbs (state of being verbs) show that something exists; they do not show action. Some common linking verbs include: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, seem, look, feel, and become.
Source: Lesson 2 and renames the subjectThe subject tells who or what about the verb.  Source: Lesson 91.  It is a complement or completer because it completes the verb.  The verb in a sentence having a predicate nominative can always be replaced by the word equals.

Examples:
Mr. Johanson is a teacher.
Mr. Johanson equals a teacher.
Mr. Johanson is a father.
Mr. Johanson equals a father.
Mr. Johanson is my neighbor.
Mr. Johanson equals my neighbor.

 
 
 

Predicate nominatives complete only linking verbs. The linking verbs include the following: the helping verbsHelping verbs are any verbs in a verb phrase that are not the main verb.
Source: Lesson 4 is, am, are, was, were, be, being, and been; the sense verbs look, taste, smell, feel, and sound; and verbs like become, seem, appear, grow, continue, stay, and turn.

Predicate nominatives can be compound.

Example:
Mr. Johanson is a teacher, father, and my neighbor.

 
 
 

Instructions: Find the verb, subject, and predicate nominatives in these sentences. Some may have compound subjects, verbs, or predicate nominatives. Some may not have a predicate nominative.

1. Abbott and Costello were famous actors and a comedy team.

2. Radio and television have become old inventions and household necessities.

3. Many neglected children become really unhappy grownups.

4. The car has been here for a long time.

5. She was a model and became a movie star.