Unveiling the Power of Predicate Adjectives: A Comprehensive Guide with Clear Examples

Adjectives modify nouns in the sentence. They are of different types. Predicated adjectives are a type of adjectives that add more details in the sentence by modifying a noun in the sentence. 

Predicate adjectives might sound complex, but they are essential tools in the English language that can elevate your writing and speaking skills. Understanding predicate adjectives isn’t just about improving your grammar; it’s about mastering clarity and expression.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the power of predicate adjectives, how they work, and how you can use them effectively in your sentences. Whether you’re a student, a writer, or someone looking to sharpen their communication skills, this guide will provide you with clear examples and practical insights to make predicate adjectives work for you.

In this article, you will learn what a predicate adjective is, how to use it correctly, and where to place it in the sentence. Also, you will find useful examples of sentences using predicate adjectives correctly.

What is a predicate adjective?

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence. Unlike attributive adjectives, which directly modify nouns (e.g., “a beautiful flower”), predicate adjectives appear in the predicate of the sentence and are connected to the subject via a linking verb (e.g., “The flower is beautiful”).

A predicate adjective, sometimes called a predicative adjective, is an adjective that is used in the predicate of a sentence.

• He is very sick. 
• She is very intelligent. 
• They are hard workers.

Role in a Sentence

Predicate adjectives serve to provide additional information about the subject. They help describe qualities or states of being, giving your sentence more depth and clarity. For example:

• “The sky is blue.”
• “She seems happy.”

In these sentences, “blue” and “happy” are predicate adjectives, giving us more information about the sky and the subject “she,” respectively.

Sentences and clauses are made of two major parts: the subject and the predicate. The subject tells us who or what is doing or experiencing something and is usually a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun.

• He is very sick.
• She is very intelligent.
• They are hard workers.

The predicate tells us what the subject is doing or experiencing and usually consists of a verb or a verb phrase and possibly a direct object, subject complement, and/or other modifiers. 

• He likes dogs.
• They love reading.
• She is very sick. 
• They are honest people.

Difference Between Predicate Adjectives and Other Adjectives

While both predicate and attributive adjectives describe nouns, they differ in placement and function. Attributive adjectives are placed directly before the noun (e.g., “a red apple”), while predicate adjectives follow a linking verb and refer back to the subject (e.g., “The apple is red”).

How Predicate Adjectives Work?

1. Linking Verbs

For a predicate adjective to function, it needs a linking verb to connect it to the subject. Linking verbs are essential as they don’t show action but rather connect the subject to the adjective or noun that describes it.

2. Common Linking Verbs

Some of the most common linking verbs include:

• To be (is, am, are, was, were)
• Seem
• Become
• Appear
• Look
• Feel
• Sound

These verbs act as a bridge between the subject and the predicate adjective. For example:

• “The cake tastes delicious.”
• “He appears tired.”

In these examples, “tastes” and “appears” are linking verbs that connect the subject to the adjective.

3. Examples of Predicate Adjectives in Sentences

Here are a few sentences that demonstrate the use of predicate adjectives:

• “The night was cold.” (Cold describes the night)
• “Her ideas seem innovative.” (Innovative describes her ideas)
• “The water is clear.” (Clear describes the water)

These examples show how predicate adjectives provide essential information about the subject, helping the reader or listener understand the subject’s characteristics or state.

How to Use Predicate Adjectives

Now the question is, where do you place a predicate adjective in the sentence?  We use predicate adjective right after the verb. see the following examples.

1. Typically, a predicate adjective follows a linking verb. 

Examples:

• She looks sick.
• He works hard. 
• They play smart.

2. Predicate adjectives usually come immediately after the verb unless they are modified by adverbs.

If an adverb modifies the predicate adjective, then the predicate adjective comes after the adverb.

Subject + verb + adverb + predicate adjective.

Examples:

• My uncle is very rich.
• He is the best seller. 
• She is the best teacher.
• They are hard workers.
• They are very wealthy people.

3. It is possible for a sentence/clause to have multiple predicate adjectives used together with conjunctions and possibly commas:

Examples:

• Her favorite colors are pink, purple, and blue.
• He is smart, wise, and keen.
• They love Spanish and Chinese food.

4. Predicate adjectives are typically located at or near the end of a sentence or clause. They may be followed by propositional phrases or conjunctions introducing a dependent clause.

Examples:

• He is tired because he clean the whole yard.
• He is late for work.
• She is ready for work.
• They are busy with their families.

How to Identify Predicate Adjectives

1. Tips for Spotting Predicate Adjectives

Spotting predicate adjectives can be easy once you know what to look for. Here are some tips:

1. Find the Subject: Identify the subject of the sentence first.
2. Look for a Linking Verb: Check if there’s a linking verb connecting the subject to another word.
3. Identify the Adjective: If there’s an adjective after the linking verb, it’s likely a predicate adjective.

For example, in the sentence “The flowers smell sweet,” “flowers” is the subject, “smell” is the linking verb, and “sweet” is the predicate adjective.

2. Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common mistake is confusing predicate adjectives with adverbs. For example, in the sentence “She looks beautiful,” “beautiful” is an adjective, not an adverb, because it describes the subject “she,” not the verb “looks.” Always remember that predicate adjectives describe the subject, not the action.

3. Practice Exercises

Try identifying the predicate adjectives in these sentences:

1. “The soup tastes delicious.”
2. “He became angry.”
3. “The sky turned dark.”

In each of these examples, the words “delicious,” “angry,” and “dark” are predicate adjectives describing the subject.

Why Predicate Adjectives Matter

1. Enhancing Clarity in Writing

Predicate adjectives are vital for creating clear and concise sentences. They allow you to describe the subject’s state or quality without adding unnecessary words. For example:

• “The day is bright.”
• “The student seems eager.”

These sentences are direct and easy to understand, thanks to the use of predicate adjectives.

1. Predicate Adjectives in Creative Writing

In creative writing, predicate adjectives can add emotion and depth to your descriptions. For example:

• “The night was eerie.”
• “Her voice sounded melodic.”

These adjectives enhance the mood and tone, helping to engage the reader and evoke imagery.

1. Predicate Adjectives in Everyday Speech

Understanding predicate adjectives can also improve your everyday communication. By using them correctly, you can convey your thoughts more clearly and accurately. For instance:

• “This food tastes amazing.”
• “He seems upset.”

In these examples, the predicate adjectives “amazing” and “upset” help you express your opinion or observation effectively.

Clear Examples of Predicate Adjectives

Simple Examples

Here are some straightforward examples of predicate adjectives:

• “The coffee is hot.”
• “She feels confident.”
• “The beach was quiet.”

These examples show how predicate adjectives describe the subject with minimal complexity.

Complex Examples

For more advanced understanding, consider these examples:

• “The solution remained unclear despite the explanation.” (Unclear describes the solution)
• “The sky turned a brilliant shade of orange.” (Brilliant describes the shade)

These sentences demonstrate how predicate adjectives can be used in more complex sentences to add detail and nuance.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Predicate adjectives can also take comparative and superlative forms to compare or indicate the highest degree of a quality:

• “The task became more difficult as time went on.” (Comparative)
• “This movie is the most exciting I’ve ever seen.” (Superlative)

These forms allow you to compare qualities and emphasize the degree of an attribute.

Conclusion

Predicate adjectives are a powerful grammatical tool that can add clarity, depth, and precision to your writing and speech. By understanding how they work and practicing their use, you can enhance your communication skills significantly.

Keep practicing! The more you use predicate adjectives, the more natural they will become in your writing and speech. Don’t shy away from experimenting with complex sentences and varying your sentence structure to make your language more dynamic.

If you’re eager to dive deeper into English grammar, consider exploring related topics such as linking verbs, predicate nominatives, and sentence structure. Understanding these elements will give you a more comprehensive grasp of how the English language works.

Predicate Adjectives FAQs

1. What is a Predicate Adjective?

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence. For example, in the sentence “The sky is blue,” the word “blue” is a predicate adjective describing “the sky.”

2. How Do Predicate Adjectives Differ from Attributive Adjectives?

• Predicate Adjectives: Appear after a linking verb and describe the subject.
  Example: “The soup tastes delicious.”
• Attributive Adjectives: Directly modify a noun and are placed before it.
  Example: “The delicious soup.”

3. Which Verbs are Considered Linking Verbs?

Common linking verbs include forms of to be (am, is, are, was, were), become, seem, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, and smell. These verbs connect the subject to additional information without expressing action.

4. Can a Sentence Have Multiple Predicate Adjectives?

Yes, a sentence can have multiple predicate adjectives connected by conjunctions.
Example: “The garden is lush and vibrant.”

5. Are Predicate Adjectives Always Single Words?

No, predicate adjectives can be compound adjectives or include modifiers.
Example: “The movie was absolutely breathtaking.”

6. How Can I Identify a Predicate Adjective in a Sentence?

To identify a predicate adjective:

1. Locate the Subject: Find who or what the sentence is about.
2. Find the Linking Verb: Identify the verb that connects the subject to more information.
3. Spot the Adjective: Look for the adjective following the linking verb that describes the subject.

Example: In “She seems happy,” “she” is the subject, “seems” is the linking verb, and “happy” is the predicate adjective.

7. Can Predicate Adjectives Be Used in Passive Voice?

Predicate adjectives typically appear in sentences with linking verbs, which don’t have an active or passive voice. Therefore, predicate adjectives are generally not associated with passive constructions.

8. Do Predicate Adjectives Agree in Number with the Subject?

Yes, while adjectives in English don’t change form based on number, the verb linking the subject and the predicate adjective should agree in number with the subject.
Example: “The flowers are beautiful.” (“Are” agrees with the plural subject “flowers.”)

9. Can Adverbs Serve as Predicate Adjectives?

No, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not nouns. Predicate adjectives specifically describe the subject of the sentence and are always adjectives.

10. What’s the Difference Between Predicate Adjectives and Predicate Nominatives?

• Predicate Adjectives: Adjectives that describe the subject.
  Example: “The sky is blue.”
• Predicate Nominatives: Nouns or pronouns that rename or identify the subject.
  Example: “She is a doctor.”

Both follow linking verbs but serve different functions.

I hope this article helped you to learn what predicate adjectives are in English grammar and how to properly use them in sentences. 

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