What is a Predicate Adjective?

S2-SA1-0424

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

A predicate adjective is an adjective that describes the subject of a sentence. It comes after a linking verb (like 'is', 'are', 'was', 'were', 'seems', 'feels', 'looks') and usually completes the meaning of the verb.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your friend scored very well in their science exam. You might say, 'Her marks are excellent!' Here, 'excellent' describes 'Her marks' (the subject) and comes after the linking verb 'are'. So, 'excellent' is a predicate adjective.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the predicate adjective in the sentence: 'The chai tastes delicious.'

Step 1: Identify the subject of the sentence. The sentence is about 'The chai'. So, 'The chai' is the subject.
---Step 2: Find the verb. The verb is 'tastes'.
---Step 3: Check if the verb is a linking verb. 'Tastes' is a linking verb because it connects the subject to a description.
---Step 4: Look for an adjective that describes the subject and comes after the linking verb. 'Delicious' describes 'The chai'.
---Step 5: Since 'delicious' describes the subject 'The chai' and follows the linking verb 'tastes', it is a predicate adjective.

Answer: 'delicious'

Why It Matters

Understanding predicate adjectives helps you write clearer and more descriptive sentences, which is vital in journalism and communication. In literature, authors use them to paint vivid pictures for readers. Knowing this concept improves your overall language skills, useful for careers in writing, law, and even social sciences.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Confusing a predicate adjective with an adverb. Students might think 'The boy runs quickly' has a predicate adjective. | CORRECTION: Remember, predicate adjectives describe the subject, while adverbs describe verbs. 'Quickly' describes 'runs' (a verb), so it's an adverb, not an adjective. A predicate adjective would be in 'The boy is quick'.

MISTAKE: Thinking any adjective after a verb is a predicate adjective. For example, in 'He ate a tasty samosa', 'tasty' is after 'ate'. | CORRECTION: A predicate adjective must follow a LINKING verb. 'Ate' is an action verb, not a linking verb. 'Tasty' here describes 'samosa' directly, not the subject 'He'.

MISTAKE: Not identifying the correct subject. In 'The flowers in the garden smell sweet', students might think 'garden' is the subject. | CORRECTION: The subject is 'The flowers'. 'Sweet' describes 'The flowers', not 'garden'. Always find what the sentence is truly about.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Find the predicate adjective: 'The new phone looks expensive.' | ANSWER: expensive

QUESTION: Which word is the predicate adjective: 'After the long journey, the passengers felt tired.' | ANSWER: tired

QUESTION: Identify the predicate adjective in the sentence: 'Even though it was raining, the children remained cheerful during the school trip.' | ANSWER: cheerful

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which sentence contains a predicate adjective?

The girl quickly finished her homework.

He bought a red car yesterday.

The movie was exciting.

She sings beautifully.

The Correct Answer Is:

In option C, 'exciting' describes 'The movie' (the subject) and follows the linking verb 'was'. Options A, B, and D do not have an adjective describing the subject after a linking verb.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you read news headlines or social media posts, predicate adjectives are everywhere! For example, a sports reporter might write, 'The cricket match was thrilling!' or a food blogger might post, 'This street food tastes amazing!' They help convey immediate feelings and descriptions, making content more engaging for readers and viewers.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

ADJECTIVE: A word that describes a noun or pronoun. | SUBJECT: The part of a sentence that performs the action or is described. | LINKING VERB: A verb that connects the subject to a word that describes or renames the subject. | PREDICATE: The part of a sentence that contains the verb and tells something about the subject.

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand predicate adjectives, you can explore other types of adjectives, like attributive adjectives. This will help you identify even more ways adjectives are used to make your writing rich and detailed.