Learning the intricacies of a language often involves delving into the subtleties of grammar. One such subtlety is the use of predicative adjectives, which are essential for constructing meaningful and accurate sentences. Understanding predicative adjectives can significantly improve your command over English, making your expressions more articulate and your descriptions more vivid. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of predicative adjectives, including their definition, usage, and common examples.
What Are Predicative Adjectives?
Predicative adjectives are adjectives that come after a linking verb and describe the subject of the sentence. Unlike attributive adjectives, which appear directly before the noun they modify, predicative adjectives are separated from the noun by the verb. For example, in the sentence “The sky is blue,” the word “blue” is a predicative adjective because it follows the linking verb “is” and describes the noun “sky.”
Linking Verbs
To fully grasp the concept of predicative adjectives, it is crucial to understand linking verbs. Linking verbs, also known as copulative verbs, serve to connect the subject of a sentence with a subject complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective. Common linking verbs include “be” (am, is, are, was, were), “seem,” “become,” “feel,” “appear,” “look,” “sound,” “smell,” and “taste.”
For instance:
– She seems happy.
– The soup tastes delicious.
– He became angry.
In these examples, the adjectives “happy,” “delicious,” and “angry” are predicative adjectives because they follow the linking verbs and describe the subjects “She,” “soup,” and “He,” respectively.
Attributive vs. Predicative Adjectives
To understand predicative adjectives better, it is helpful to compare them with attributive adjectives. Attributive adjectives appear directly before the noun they modify and are part of the noun phrase. For example:
– The blue sky.
– A happy child.
– An angry man.
In these cases, “blue,” “happy,” and “angry” are attributive adjectives because they come directly before the nouns “sky,” “child,” and “man,” respectively.
On the other hand, predicative adjectives follow a linking verb and describe the subject:
– The sky is blue.
– The child seems happy.
– The man became angry.
Understanding the difference between attributive and predicative adjectives is essential for mastering their correct usage in sentences.
Common Predicative Adjectives
Certain adjectives are predominantly used in the predicative position. While many adjectives can be both attributive and predicative, some are almost exclusively predicative. Here are a few examples of common predicative adjectives:
– Afraid: She is afraid.
– Asleep: The baby is asleep.
– Alone: He felt alone.
– Alive: The fish is still alive.
– Ill: She looks ill.
These adjectives typically do not appear before the noun they modify. For instance, we do not say “an afraid girl” or “an asleep baby.”
Usage of Predicative Adjectives in Sentences
Correct usage of predicative adjectives is vital for clear and accurate communication. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you use predicative adjectives effectively:
With the Verb “To Be”
The verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were) is the most common linking verb used with predicative adjectives. Here are some examples:
– The flowers are beautiful.
– He was tired after the long journey.
– They were excited about the trip.
In these sentences, the predicative adjectives “beautiful,” “tired,” and “excited” follow the forms of the verb “to be” and describe the subjects “flowers,” “He,” and “They,” respectively.
With Other Linking Verbs
While the verb “to be” is the most common linking verb, other linking verbs can also be used with predicative adjectives. Here are some examples:
– She seems happy.
– The soup smells delicious.
– The weather looks gloomy.
In these sentences, the predicative adjectives “happy,” “delicious,” and “gloomy” follow the linking verbs “seems,” “smells,” and “looks,” respectively, and describe the subjects “She,” “soup,” and “weather.”
In Questions
Predicative adjectives can also be used in questions. Here are some examples:
– Is he angry?
– Are the cookies ready?
– Was the movie interesting?
In these questions, the predicative adjectives “angry,” “ready,” and “interesting” follow the forms of the verb “to be” and describe the subjects “he,” “cookies,” and “movie,” respectively.
In Negative Sentences
Predicative adjectives can be used in negative sentences to describe what the subject is not. Here are some examples:
– She is not happy with the results.
– The soup does not taste good.
– They were not excited about the news.
In these sentences, the predicative adjectives “happy,” “good,” and “excited” follow the linking verbs and describe the subjects “She,” “soup,” and “They,” respectively, in a negative context.
Common Mistakes with Predicative Adjectives
Even advanced learners of English can sometimes make mistakes with predicative adjectives. Here are some common errors and tips to avoid them:
Using Attributive Adjectives Predicatively
Some adjectives are typically used attributively and not predicatively. For example, the adjective “main” is usually attributive:
– Correct: The main point is clear.
– Incorrect: The point is main.
Similarly, “mere” is usually attributive:
– Correct: It was a mere suggestion.
– Incorrect: The suggestion was mere.
Forgetting the Linking Verb
A common mistake is forgetting to include the linking verb when using a predicative adjective. For example:
– Incorrect: The sky blue.
– Correct: The sky is blue.
Always ensure that a linking verb is present between the subject and the predicative adjective.
Overusing Predicative Adjectives
While predicative adjectives are useful, overusing them can make your writing or speech repetitive. Try to vary your sentence structures by also using attributive adjectives and other descriptive techniques. For example:
– Overuse: The cake is delicious. The coffee is hot. The room is clean.
– Varied: The delicious cake was served with hot coffee in a clean room.
Exercises to Practice Predicative Adjectives
To solidify your understanding of predicative adjectives, it is beneficial to practice using them in sentences. Here are some exercises to help you:
Exercise 1: Identify the Predicative Adjectives
Read the following sentences and identify the predicative adjectives:
1. The weather seems nice today.
2. She felt tired after the workout.
3. The cake smells delicious.
4. He appeared nervous during the interview.
5. The room looks clean.
Answers:
1. nice
2. tired
3. delicious
4. nervous
5. clean
Exercise 2: Rewrite Sentences with Predicative Adjectives
Rewrite the following sentences by changing the attributive adjectives to predicative adjectives:
1. The happy dog wagged its tail.
2. The hot coffee burned my tongue.
3. The tired student fell asleep.
4. The excited children ran to the playground.
5. The clean room was ready for the guests.
Answers:
1. The dog is happy and wagged its tail.
2. The coffee is hot and burned my tongue.
3. The student is tired and fell asleep.
4. The children are excited and ran to the playground.
5. The room is clean and was ready for the guests.
Advanced Concepts Related to Predicative Adjectives
Once you are comfortable with the basic usage of predicative adjectives, you can explore more advanced concepts that involve them. Here are some additional topics to consider:
Compound Predicative Adjectives
Sometimes, a subject can have more than one predicative adjective. In such cases, the adjectives are usually connected by a conjunction like “and.” For example:
– The soup is hot and spicy.
– She felt tired and hungry.
– The room was clean and spacious.
In these sentences, the predicative adjectives “hot” and “spicy,” “tired” and “hungry,” “clean” and “spacious” describe the subjects “soup,” “She,” and “room,” respectively.
Predicative Adjective Phrases
A predicative adjective can also be part of a longer adjective phrase. For example:
– The weather was nice enough for a picnic.
– She seemed happy with the results.
– The soup tastes too salty for my liking.
In these sentences, the phrases “nice enough for a picnic,” “happy with the results,” and “too salty for my liking” act as predicative adjective phrases describing the subjects “weather,” “She,” and “soup,” respectively.
Predicative Adjectives with Modal Verbs
Predicative adjectives can also be used with modal verbs like “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “would,” and “must.” For example:
– She can be happy if she tries.
– The soup might be delicious.
– He should be careful with his words.
In these sentences, the predicative adjectives “happy,” “delicious,” and “careful” follow the modal verbs and describe the subjects “She,” “soup,” and “He,” respectively.
Conclusion
Predicative adjectives are a fundamental aspect of English grammar that allows for more nuanced and accurate descriptions. By understanding their definition, usage, and common examples, you can enhance your language skills and communicate more effectively. Remember to practice using predicative adjectives in various sentence structures, and be mindful of common mistakes to avoid. With consistent practice and attention to detail, you will master the use of predicative adjectives and improve your overall command of the English language.
