Lesson 103

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.

1. One traitor and enemy to his country was Benedict Arnold.

2. Two loved Presidents were Lincoln and Washington.

3. A ruby is a beautiful stone.

4. The roads in the mountains can be long dusty trails.

5. The location to the mine was and still is a secret.