Predicate Nominative: What Is a Predicate Nominative?

English-language grammarians divide sentences into two parts: the subject of a sentence and the predicate of a sentence. The subject of the sentence is a noun—either a common noun or a proper noun. The predicate of the sentence contains a verb and some form of an object—either a direct object, an indirect object, or both.

The phrase "predicate nominative" is a grammar term that describes a noun clause in the predicate of certain sentences. The predicate nominative appears as a group of words following a linking verb like "to be" or "to become." Predicates nominative do not follow action verbs.

Predicates nominative are also known as predicate noun phrases because they are nouns that occur in the predicate of a sentence. They are considered subject complements because they provide an alternate description of the sentence's subject. Pronouns contained within the predicate nominative should appear in their objective case (me, him, her, etc.). Only subject pronouns should appear in the nominative case (I, he, she, etc.).

There are two forms of the predicate nominative in English grammar.

1. 1. Simple predicate nominative: This is a predicate nominative that contains a single noun. ("Melinda is a musician.")
2. 2. Compound predicate nominative: This is a predicate nominative containing multiple nouns. ("The fastest birds are peregrine falcons, saker falcons, and golden eagles.")

The phrase "predicate adjective" is a term grammarians use to describe adjectival phrases that appear in the predicate of a sentence after a linking verb like "to be." This makes a predicate adjective distinct from a predicate nominative, which is effectively a predicate noun.

• Example of a predicate nominative: "Edwin is my best friend."
• Example of a predicate adjective: "Edwin is kind and funny."

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