A predicate nominative also named, a predicate noun is a word or group of words that completes the link action and renames the topic.
In other words, the predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that refers to or describes the subject of a sentence. It always follows the link action. Now to find the predicate nominative, we need to find the connecting verb and see if there is a next word or pronoun and refer to, or explain more, the subject of a sentence.
Examples of Predicate Nominatives
Let us see the examples below where the linking verbs are in bold and the predicate nominatives are shaded.
- Reece was a politician.
- A dog is man’s best friend.
- He will be the richest.
- I could have been a contestant.
- I could have been a superstar.
- You have been an amazing friend.
- We can be friends.
- You can be a good sports person
- Conoor will be a cricketer soon.
- Life is a mystery.
- He is attending the marriage.
- Susan must be the captain of the team.
- I could have been the first man to walk on water and fly in the air.
- Mohit was not a solid fighter. He was nobody when he entered into the fighting game.
- Your experience is your best friend. It never leaves you.
In below examples, we will observe that the predicate nominative is a noun or a noun phrase. But a predicate nominative can as well be a noun clause. Now let us see with the help of examples:
- Freddy is my brother.
Here, “Freddy” is the subject. The linking verb “is” connects the predicate nominative, “my brother,” to the subject. “My brother” is the predicate nominative.
- Ronald Reagan was the 40th United States President.
Similarly, in this sentence, “was” connects the predicate nominate “the 40th United States President” to “Ronald Reagan.”
- Firoz’s favorite toy is the one that makes noise.
In this example, the predicate nominative is “the one that makes noise” which is a clause renaming “toy.”
- The best car is the red one.
In this example, the predicate nominative is “the red one” which is a phrase renaming “car.”