Predicate Adjectives Definition Usage and Examples

Predicate Adjectives: Definition, Usage, and Examples

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Understanding predicate adjectives is crucial for mastering sentence structure and writing clear, descriptive prose. Predicate adjectives add depth and detail to our sentences by describing the subject, but they do so in a specific way—by following a linking verb.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide to predicate adjectives, covering their definition, structure, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced applications. Whether you’re a student, a writer, or simply someone looking to improve your English grammar, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to use predicate adjectives effectively.

Table of Contents

Definition of Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the sentence. Unlike attributive adjectives, which precede the noun they modify (e.g., the red car), predicate adjectives are part of the sentence’s predicate. They provide information about the subject’s state, condition, or quality. They essentially “complete” the meaning of the linking verb by describing the subject.

Predicate adjectives are classified as subject complements because they complement or complete the meaning of the subject by describing it. They always appear after a linking verb, which connects the subject to the adjective.

Understanding this relationship is key to identifying and using predicate adjectives correctly.

The function of a predicate adjective is to describe the subject of the sentence. It tells us something about the subject’s characteristics or condition.

This descriptive function is crucial for adding detail and clarity to our writing. By using predicate adjectives, we can paint a more vivid picture for the reader and convey more specific information about the subject.

Predicate adjectives are typically found in sentences that use linking verbs. Common linking verbs include forms of to be (is, are, was, were, am, been, being), as well as verbs that express a state of being or sense perception, such as seem, appear, become, feel, look, smell, taste, and sound. The context in which these verbs are used determines whether an adjective following them is a predicate adjective.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a sentence with a predicate adjective is: Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Adjective. The subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. The linking verb connects the subject to the predicate adjective. The predicate adjective describes the subject.

For example, in the sentence “The soup is hot,” “soup” is the subject, “is” is the linking verb, and “hot” is the predicate adjective. The predicate adjective “hot” describes the state of the soup.

This simple structure is fundamental to understanding how predicate adjectives function within a sentence.

Linking verbs play a crucial role in identifying predicate adjectives. These verbs do not express action; instead, they connect the subject to a descriptive word or phrase. Some common linking verbs include: is, are, was, were, am, seem, appear, become, feel, look, smell, taste, sound, get, grow, remain, stay. Recognizing these verbs is essential for identifying predicate adjectives.

It’s important to distinguish between linking verbs and action verbs. Action verbs describe an action performed by the subject, while linking verbs connect the subject to a description.

For example, in the sentence “She runs quickly,” “runs” is an action verb, and “quickly” is an adverb modifying the verb. In contrast, in the sentence “She is happy,” “is” is a linking verb, and “happy” is a predicate adjective describing the subject “she.”

Types and Categories of Predicate Adjectives

Predicate adjectives can be categorized based on the type of quality or characteristic they describe. While not a formal grammatical classification, understanding these categories can help you use predicate adjectives more effectively.

Here are some common categories:

Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives are the most common type of predicate adjective. They describe the physical appearance, qualities, or characteristics of the subject.

These adjectives provide specific details that help the reader visualize or understand the subject better. For example, “The sky is blue” (blue describes the color of the sky).

Evaluative Adjectives

Evaluative adjectives express an opinion or judgment about the subject. They indicate whether something is good or bad, positive or negative.

These adjectives often reflect the speaker’s or writer’s perspective. Examples include: “The movie was excellent” (excellent expresses a positive opinion about the movie).

Adjectives of Condition

Adjectives of condition describe the state or condition of the subject. They indicate whether something is healthy, sick, tired, or otherwise affected.

These adjectives often relate to the subject’s physical or emotional state. For example, “He seems tired” (tired describes his current state).

Adjectives of State of Being

These adjectives describe a more permanent state of the subject. They are similar to adjectives of condition but imply a more enduring characteristic.

For instance, “She is intelligent” (intelligent describes a lasting trait).

Adjectives of Sensory Perception

These adjectives are often used with linking verbs related to the senses, such as look, smell, taste, sound, and feel. They describe how something appears, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels. For example, “The coffee smells strong” (strong describes the smell of the coffee).

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Examples of Predicate Adjectives

To fully understand predicate adjectives, it’s helpful to see them in action. Below are several tables with examples of predicate adjectives used in various contexts.

Each table focuses on a different category or type of sentence structure.

Examples with Forms of “to be”

The forms of “to be” (is, are, was, were, am, been, being) are the most common linking verbs. Here are examples of predicate adjectives used with these verbs:

Sentence Subject Linking Verb Predicate Adjective
The flower is beautiful. flower is beautiful
The children are happy. children are happy
The weather was cold. weather was cold
The students were attentive. students were attentive
I am ready. I am ready
The cake has been delicious. cake has been delicious
The music is being loud. music is being loud
The solution is simple. solution is simple
The books are interesting. books are interesting
The task was difficult. task was difficult
The players were exhausted. players were exhausted
She is confident. She is confident
The project has been successful. project has been successful
The process is being efficient. process is being efficient
The room is clean. room is clean
The birds are noisy. birds are noisy
The story was long. story was long
The actors were talented. actors were talented
We are early. We are early
The food has been great. food has been great
The show is being exciting. show is being exciting
The idea is innovative. idea is innovative
The flowers are fragrant. flowers are fragrant
The journey was tiring. journey was tiring
The athletes were strong. athletes were strong
He is determined. He is determined
The result has been positive. result has been positive
The event is being memorable. event is being memorable

Examples with Sensory Verbs

Sensory verbs (look, smell, taste, sound, feel) often connect the subject to a predicate adjective that describes a sensory experience:

Sentence Subject Linking Verb Predicate Adjective
The music sounds beautiful. music sounds beautiful
The soup smells delicious. soup smells delicious
The fabric feels soft. fabric feels soft
The coffee tastes bitter. coffee tastes bitter
The sky looks clear. sky looks clear
The air smells fresh. air smells fresh
The bread tastes stale. bread tastes stale
The performance sounds amazing. performance sounds amazing
The texture feels rough. texture feels rough
The flower smells sweet. flower smells sweet
The lemonade tastes sour. lemonade tastes sour
The idea sounds interesting. idea sounds interesting
The blanket feels warm. blanket feels warm
The solution sounds promising. solution sounds promising
The perfume smells strong. perfume smells strong
The water tastes salty. water tastes salty
The plan sounds risky. plan sounds risky
The metal feels cold. metal feels cold
The cake tastes rich. cake tastes rich
The story sounds unbelievable. story sounds unbelievable
The silk feels smooth. silk feels smooth
The medicine tastes awful. medicine tastes awful
The music sounds lively. music sounds lively
The grass feels prickly. grass feels prickly
The sauce tastes spicy. sauce tastes spicy
The news sounds encouraging. news sounds encouraging
The stone feels hard. stone feels hard

Examples with Verbs like “Seem,” “Appear,” “Become,” “Get,” “Grow”

Verbs like “seem,” “appear,” “become,” “get,” and “grow” also function as linking verbs when they connect the subject to a predicate adjective:

Sentence Subject Linking Verb Predicate Adjective
He seems happy. He seems happy
She appears confident. She appears confident
The situation became serious. situation became serious
He got angry. He got angry
The days grew shorter. days grew shorter
She seems tired. She seems tired
The problem appears complex. problem appears complex
The weather became stormy. weather became stormy
They got excited. They got excited
The project grew large. project grew large
It seems impossible. It seems impossible
The evidence appears conclusive. evidence appears conclusive
The task became overwhelming. task became overwhelming
He got frustrated. He got frustrated
The challenge grew intense. challenge grew intense
She seems nervous. She seems nervous
The answer appears obvious. answer appears obvious
The conversation became awkward. conversation became awkward
They got worried. They got worried
The empire grew powerful. empire grew powerful
The situation seems manageable. situation seems manageable
The solution appears feasible. solution appears feasible
The decision became final. decision became final
She got scared. She got scared
The business grew successful. business grew successful
The story seems unbelievable. story seems unbelievable
The claim appears invalid. claim appears invalid

Usage Rules for Predicate Adjectives

Using predicate adjectives correctly involves understanding several key rules. These rules ensure that your sentences are grammatically sound and convey your intended meaning clearly.

Rule 1: Follow a Linking Verb

Predicate adjectives must always follow a linking verb. The linking verb connects the subject of the sentence to the predicate adjective, which describes the subject.

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If a verb is an action verb, the following adjective is likely an adverb modifying the verb, not a predicate adjective.

Rule 2: Modify the Subject

The predicate adjective must modify the subject of the sentence. It provides information about the subject’s qualities, characteristics, or state of being.

If the adjective modifies a different element in the sentence, it is not a predicate adjective.

Rule 3: Placement in the Sentence

Predicate adjectives typically appear after the linking verb in the predicate of the sentence. While variations exist, this is the most common and straightforward placement.

The adjective completes the idea started by the subject and linking verb.

Rule 4: Subject Complements

Predicate adjectives are a type of subject complement. This means they complete the meaning of the subject by describing it.

Other types of subject complements include predicate nominatives (nouns that rename the subject).

Rule 5: Agreement with the Subject

While adjectives themselves do not change form to agree with the subject (unlike verbs or nouns in some languages), the linking verb must agree with the subject in number and person. This ensures grammatical correctness.

Exceptions and Special Cases

In some cases, the linking verb might be part of a verb phrase (e.g., “has been,” “is being”). In these instances, the predicate adjective still follows the complete verb phrase.

Also, sentences can be inverted for stylistic effect, but the fundamental relationship between the subject, linking verb, and predicate adjective remains.

Common Mistakes with Predicate Adjectives

Several common mistakes can occur when using predicate adjectives. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them in your writing.

Mistake 1: Confusing Adverbs with Predicate Adjectives

One of the most frequent errors is confusing adverbs with predicate adjectives. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, while predicate adjectives modify the subject and follow a linking verb.

To avoid this, check whether the word follows a linking verb and describes the subject.

Incorrect Correct Explanation
He runs quick. He is quick. “Runs” is an action verb, so “quick” should be “quickly” if modifying the verb. “Is” is a linking verb, so “quick” is a predicate adjective describing “He.”
She sings beautiful. She is beautiful. “Sings” is an action verb, so “beautiful” should be “beautifully” if modifying the verb. “Is” is a linking verb, so “beautiful” is a predicate adjective.

Mistake 2: Using Action Verbs Instead of Linking Verbs

Using an action verb instead of a linking verb can change the meaning of the sentence and make the adjective incorrect. Ensure that you use a linking verb to connect the subject to the descriptive adjective.

Incorrect Correct Explanation
The soup tastes strongly. The soup tastes strong. “Tastes” is used as a linking verb here, describing the quality of the soup. “Strongly” is an adverb and doesn’t fit the sentence’s structure.
The fabric feels softly. The fabric feels soft. “Feels” is a linking verb describing the fabric. “Softly” is an adverb and not appropriate in this context.

Mistake 3: Misidentifying the Subject

If you misidentify the subject of the sentence, you might incorrectly identify the predicate adjective. Ensure you clearly understand what the sentence is about before identifying the predicate adjective.

Incorrect Correct Explanation
In the sentence, “The book on the table is old,” “table” is the subject, and “old” is the predicate adjective. In the sentence, “The book on the table is old,” “book” is the subject, and “old” is the predicate adjective. The subject of the sentence is “book,” not “table.” The adjective “old” describes the book.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of predicate adjectives with these practice exercises. Identify the predicate adjective in each sentence.

If there isn’t one, mark “None.”

Exercise 1: Identifying Predicate Adjectives

Question Answer
1. The coffee is strong. strong
2. She sings beautifully. None
3. The flowers smell sweet. sweet
4. He runs fast. None
5. The sky looks blue. blue
6. The food tastes delicious. delicious
7. They are happy. happy
8. The music sounds loud. loud
9. The fabric feels soft. soft
10. It became cold. cold

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with a suitable predicate adjective.

Question Answer
1. The weather is ______. pleasant/sunny/cold
2. The students seem ______. engaged/interested/bored
3. The soup tastes ______. salty/delicious/bland
4. The music sounds ______. soothing/loud/harmonious
5. The fabric feels ______. smooth/rough/soft
6. The project became ______. challenging/complex/manageable
7. The situation appears ______. serious/calm/stable
8. She is ______. kind/intelligent/creative
9. He seems ______. tired/energetic/relaxed
10. The book is ______. interesting/long/informative

Exercise 3: Correct the Sentences

Correct the following sentences, which contain errors related to predicate adjectives.

Question Answer
1. He runs quick. He is quick.
2. She sings beautiful. She is beautiful.
3. The coffee tastes strongly. The coffee tastes strong.
4. The fabric feels softly. The fabric feels soft.
5. They are happily. They are happy.
6. The music sounds loudly. The music sounds loud.
7. The flower smells sweetly. The flower smells sweet.
8. The sky looks clearly. The sky looks clear.
9. It became hardly. It became hard.
10. She seems nervously. She seems nervous.
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Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding more complex aspects of predicate adjectives can enhance your writing and analytical skills.

Multiple Predicate Adjectives

Sentences can have multiple predicate adjectives describing the same subject. These adjectives can provide a more detailed and nuanced description.

Example: “The cake is delicious and moist.” In this sentence, both “delicious” and “moist” are predicate adjectives describing the cake.

Predicate Adjectives with Compound Subjects

When a sentence has a compound subject, the predicate adjective describes both subjects. The linking verb must agree with the compound subject.

Example: “John and Mary are intelligent and kind.” Here, “intelligent” and “kind” describe both John and Mary.

Using Infinitives and Gerunds as Subjects

Infinitives (to + verb) and gerunds (verb + -ing) can function as subjects and be described by predicate adjectives.

Example: “Swimming is relaxing.” In this sentence, “swimming” (a gerund) is the subject, and “relaxing” is the predicate adjective.

Stylistic Variations

Writers sometimes use predicate adjectives in creative ways to achieve specific stylistic effects. This might involve inverting the sentence structure or using less common linking verbs.

Example: “Weary was he after the long journey.” This inverted sentence emphasizes the adjective “weary.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about predicate adjectives:

  1. What is the difference between a predicate adjective and an attributive adjective?

    2. An attributive adjective precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., “the red car”), while a predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject (e.g., “the car is red”). The key difference is their position and function within the sentence.

  2. How do I identify a linking verb?

    3. Linking verbs connect the subject to a descriptive word or phrase. Common linking verbs include forms of “to be” (is, are, was, were, am, been, being) and verbs related to senses or states of being (seem, appear, become, feel, look, smell, taste, sound).

    If the verb expresses an action, it’s not a linking verb.

  3. Can a sentence have more than one predicate adjective?

    4. Yes, a sentence can have multiple predicate adjectives describing the same subject. These adjectives provide a more detailed and nuanced description.

  4. What is a subject complement?

    5. A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and completes the meaning of the subject. Predicate adjectives are a type of subject complement, as are predicate nominatives (nouns that rename the subject).

  5. Do predicate adjectives agree with the subject in number?

    6. Adjectives themselves do not change form to agree with the subject (unlike verbs or nouns in some languages). However, the linking verb must agree with the subject in number and person.

  6. What if the linking verb is part of a verb phrase?

    7. Even if the linking verb is part of a verb phrase (e.g., “has been,” “is being”), the predicate adjective still follows the complete verb phrase and modifies the subject.

  7. How can I avoid confusing adverbs with predicate adjectives?

    8. Check whether the word follows a linking verb. If it does and describes the subject, it’s a predicate adjective.

    If it modifies an action verb, adjective, or another adverb, it’s an adverb.

  8. Can a predicate adjective be a phrase instead of a single word?

    9. While less common, a predicate adjective can sometimes be a phrase. The key is that the entire phrase functions as an adjective describing the subject and follows a linking verb.

    For example: “The report is of great importance.” Here, “of great importance” acts as a predicate adjective describing the report.

  9. Are there any verbs that are *always* linking verbs?

    10. Forms of the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, been, being) are almost always linking verbs. Other verbs can function as either linking verbs or action verbs depending on the context.

    The key is whether the verb connects the subject to a description or expresses an action.

  10. Why is it important to understand predicate adjectives?

    11. Understanding predicate adjectives is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and descriptive sentences. It allows you to express the qualities and characteristics of subjects clearly and effectively, enhancing your writing and communication skills.

Conclusion

Predicate adjectives are essential components of English grammar that enable us to describe the subjects of our sentences effectively. By following linking verbs, these adjectives provide valuable information about the subject’s qualities, characteristics, or state of being.

Understanding the structure, usage rules, and common mistakes associated with predicate adjectives is crucial for mastering sentence construction and writing clear, descriptive prose.

Whether you’re a student, a writer, or simply someone interested in improving your grammar, the knowledge and exercises provided in this guide will help you use predicate adjectives with confidence. Remember to focus on identifying linking verbs, ensuring the adjective modifies the subject, and avoiding common errors such as confusing adverbs with predicate adjectives.

With practice and attention to detail, you can master the art of using predicate adjectives to enhance your writing and communication skills.

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