In the vast and intricate world of grammar, understanding the role of different components is essential for mastering a language. One such component is the predicate adjective, a term that might sound intimidating but is actually quite straightforward once you get the hang of it. By the end of this article, you’ll not only understand what predicate adjectives are but also how to use them effectively in your writing and speech.
Understanding Predicate Adjectives
To grasp the concept of predicate adjectives, it’s crucial to first understand what a predicate is. In simple terms, the predicate of a sentence is what tells us something about the subject. It typically contains a verb and provides information about what the subject is doing or what condition the subject is in.
For example, in the sentence “The sky is blue,” “the sky” is the subject, and “is blue” is the predicate. The word “blue” here is a predicate adjective because it describes the subject of the sentence.
Predicate adjectives are adjectives that follow a linking verb and describe the subject of the sentence. Linking verbs, also known as copular verbs, include forms of the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, etc.) and other verbs that can serve the same function, such as “seem,” “become,” “appear,” “feel,” “look,” “sound,” and “taste.”
Examples of Predicate Adjectives
Let’s examine a few examples to clarify this concept further:
1. The cake tastes delicious.
2. The students are excited about the field trip.
3. The flowers look beautiful in the garden.
4. The water feels cold in the pool.
In each of these sentences, the adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject. “Delicious,” “excited,” “beautiful,” and “cold” are all predicate adjectives providing more information about the cake, students, flowers, and water respectively.
The Role of Linking Verbs
As mentioned earlier, linking verbs play a crucial role in sentences with predicate adjectives. Unlike action verbs, which express actions performed by the subject, linking verbs serve to connect the subject with additional information about it. This additional information often comes in the form of predicate adjectives.
Here are some common linking verbs used with predicate adjectives:
– Forms of “to be”: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
– Sensory verbs: look, sound, smell, taste, feel
– Others: seem, become, appear, grow, turn, remain, stay
Linking verbs are essential because they act as a bridge between the subject and the predicate adjective, allowing the adjective to describe the subject.
Examples with Different Linking Verbs
To see how different linking verbs function with predicate adjectives, consider the following examples:
1. The soup smells delicious.
2. The sky grew dark as the storm approached.
3. The baby seems happy in her new crib.
4. The leaves turned yellow in the fall.
In each case, the linking verb (smells, grew, seems, turned) connects the subject (soup, sky, baby, leaves) to the predicate adjective (delicious, dark, happy, yellow), providing a complete picture of the subject’s state or condition.
Predicate Adjectives vs. Attributive Adjectives
It’s important to distinguish between predicate adjectives and attributive adjectives. Both serve to describe nouns, but they do so in different positions within a sentence.
Attributive adjectives appear directly before the nouns they describe. For example:
1. The red apple is on the table.
2. She wore a beautiful dress to the party.
3. He has a fast car.
In these sentences, “red,” “beautiful,” and “fast” are attributive adjectives because they come before the nouns “apple,” “dress,” and “car” and provide descriptive information about them.
Predicate adjectives, on the other hand, come after the noun they describe and follow a linking verb. For example:
1. The apple is red.
2. The dress looks beautiful.
3. The car is fast.
Here, “red,” “beautiful,” and “fast” are predicate adjectives, as they follow a linking verb and describe the subject.
Comparing Attributive and Predicate Adjectives
To further illustrate the difference, let’s compare attributive and predicate adjectives in similar sentences:
1. Attributive: The tall man is a basketball player.
Predicate: The man is tall.
2. Attributive: The happy child played in the park.
Predicate: The child is happy.
3. Attributive: The old house is being renovated.
Predicate: The house is old.
In each pair, the attributive adjective comes before the noun, while the predicate adjective follows a linking verb.
Forming Sentences with Predicate Adjectives
Creating sentences with predicate adjectives is straightforward once you understand the structure. Here are some key steps to follow:
1. **Identify the Subject**: Determine the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about.
2. **Choose a Linking Verb**: Select an appropriate linking verb to connect the subject with the predicate adjective.
3. **Select a Predicate Adjective**: Choose an adjective that describes the subject and follows the linking verb.
Let’s practice this with a few examples:
1. **Subject**: The movie
**Linking Verb**: is
**Predicate Adjective**: entertaining
**Sentence**: The movie is entertaining.
2. **Subject**: The weather
**Linking Verb**: feels
**Predicate Adjective**: chilly
**Sentence**: The weather feels chilly.
3. **Subject**: The music
**Linking Verb**: sounds
**Predicate Adjective**: soothing
**Sentence**: The music sounds soothing.
By following these steps, you can easily form sentences that effectively use predicate adjectives.
Common Mistakes with Predicate Adjectives
Even though predicate adjectives are relatively simple to use, there are some common mistakes that learners should be aware of. By recognizing these pitfalls, you can avoid them and improve your grammatical accuracy.
1. Using an Action Verb Instead of a Linking Verb
One common mistake is using an action verb instead of a linking verb with a predicate adjective. Remember that predicate adjectives describe the subject’s state or condition, not an action. For example:
Incorrect: The cake tastes eat.
Correct: The cake tastes delicious.
In the incorrect sentence, “eat” is an action verb, which doesn’t fit the structure needed for a predicate adjective. The correct sentence uses the linking verb “tastes” with the predicate adjective “delicious.”
2. Misplacing the Predicate Adjective
Another mistake is placing the predicate adjective in the wrong position within the sentence. Predicate adjectives should always follow a linking verb. For example:
Incorrect: The happy child is.
Correct: The child is happy.
In the incorrect sentence, the adjective “happy” is placed before the verb “is,” making the sentence awkward and unclear. The correct sentence places “happy” after the verb, following the correct structure for a predicate adjective.
3. Confusing Predicate Adjectives with Predicate Nouns
Predicate adjectives are sometimes confused with predicate nouns (also known as predicate nominatives). While predicate adjectives describe the subject, predicate nouns rename or identify the subject. For example:
Predicate Adjective: The soup smells delicious.
Predicate Noun: The soup is a meal.
In the first sentence, “delicious” is a predicate adjective describing the soup’s quality. In the second sentence, “meal” is a predicate noun identifying what the soup is.
Advanced Usage of Predicate Adjectives
Once you’re comfortable with the basics of predicate adjectives, you can explore more advanced usage to enhance your writing and speech.
1. Using Compound Predicate Adjectives
Compound predicate adjectives consist of two or more adjectives connected by a conjunction (usually “and” or “or”) that describe the subject. For example:
1. The weather is cold and windy.
2. The cake tastes sweet and moist.
3. The movie was exciting and funny.
Using compound predicate adjectives adds depth and detail to your descriptions.
2. Employing Predicate Adjectives in Complex Sentences
Predicate adjectives can also be used in complex sentences with subordinate clauses. For example:
1. Although the journey was long, it was enjoyable.
2. The book, which was boring at first, became interesting later.
3. Because the weather is cold, we decided to stay indoors.
In these sentences, the predicate adjectives “long,” “enjoyable,” “boring,” “interesting,” and “cold” provide detailed descriptions within complex sentence structures.
3. Combining Predicate Adjectives with Adverbs
Predicate adjectives can be modified by adverbs to add nuance and precision to your descriptions. For example:
1. The soup is extremely delicious.
2. The sky looks absolutely beautiful.
3. The child seems very happy.
In each case, the adverbs “extremely,” “absolutely,” and “very” intensify the predicate adjectives, providing a clearer picture of the subject’s state.
Practice Exercises
To solidify your understanding of predicate adjectives, try these practice exercises. Identify the subject, linking verb, and predicate adjective in each sentence:
1. The flowers smell fragrant.
2. The cat is sleepy after its nap.
3. The music sounds too loud.
4. The teacher seems quite happy with our progress.
5. The soup tastes salty.
Answers:
1. Subject: The flowers, Linking Verb: smell, Predicate Adjective: fragrant.
2. Subject: The cat, Linking Verb: is, Predicate Adjective: sleepy.
3. Subject: The music, Linking Verb: sounds, Predicate Adjective: too loud.
4. Subject: The teacher, Linking Verb: seems, Predicate Adjective: quite happy.
5. Subject: The soup, Linking Verb: tastes, Predicate Adjective: salty.
Conclusion
Understanding predicate adjectives is a valuable skill that enhances your ability to describe subjects effectively. By recognizing the role of linking verbs and distinguishing between predicate and attributive adjectives, you can construct clear and accurate sentences. Practice using predicate adjectives in your writing and speech to become more proficient in this essential aspect of grammar. Happy learning!
