I am really confused please help if possible. I have three sentences and I have to say which one has a predicate adjective. I think a predicate adjective exists in the three sentences mentioned below. If I am wrong please correct and explain my misunderstanding of the concept.
1-The scientist is he.
2-The scientist was strong.
3-The scientist was a gerat inventor.
Thank you again for your help.
What are the predicates in the three sentences?
- is he
- was strong
- was a great inventor
Predicate adjective -- What is it? It is a verbal complement that comes after certain verbs (linking verbs). IF you take away a verb and in its vacant slot you insert an equasion mark, and if the equasion is correct, then you have a linking verb. Linking verbs subcategorize an internal complement that traditionalists call a subject complement. A subject complement can be of two types regarding its categorial status: adjective (phrase), noun (phrase)
Let us look at the three complements:
- he
- strong
- a great inventor
he = noun, right?
strong? Adjective!
a great inventor? nominal phrase
In our quest to find a pred. adj., only 'strong' deserves our attention because it is the only adj.
Let us look at the second sentence again:
The scientist was strong.
The scientist = strong
Is 'strong' predicated of 'the scientist'? Yes! --> is = linking verb; strong = adj. --> strong = predicate adjective.
:up:
