Adjectives are a fundamental part of speech in English, providing crucial information about nouns and pronouns. While many learners are familiar with adjectives in an attributive position, where they directly modify a noun (e.g., “a beautiful house”), understanding adjectives in a predicative position is equally important. Predicative adjectives do not directly modify a noun but instead follow a linking verb to describe the subject. This article will delve into the concept of predicative adjectives, their usage, common linking verbs, and pitfalls to avoid, all to help enhance your command of English.
Understanding Predicative Adjectives
Predicative adjectives are used after a linking verb to provide information about the subject of the sentence. Unlike attributive adjectives, which come before the noun they modify, predicative adjectives appear in the predicate of the sentence. For example, in the sentence “The sky is blue,” “blue” is a predicative adjective that describes “the sky.”
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs, also known as copular verbs, are essential in forming sentences with predicative adjectives. These verbs connect the subject of the sentence to a subject complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective. The most common linking verb is “to be” in its various forms (am, is, are, was, were, etc.). However, there are other linking verbs that you should be familiar with:
1. **To appear**: She appears *happy*.
2. **To become**: He became *angry*.
3. **To feel**: They felt *tired*.
4. **To look**: She looks *excited*.
5. **To seem**: He seems *confused*.
6. **To sound**: That sounds *interesting*.
7. **To taste**: The soup tastes *delicious*.
These linking verbs do not express action but rather a state of being or perception, connecting the subject to the predicative adjective.
Usage and Examples
Understanding how to use predicative adjectives correctly involves recognizing the structure of sentences where they appear. Here are some examples to illustrate their usage:
1. **Simple Sentences**:
– The cake is *delicious*.
– The children are *happy*.
– The movie was *boring*.
2. **Complex Sentences**:
– After a long day, she felt *exhausted*.
– The sky turned *gray* before the storm.
– He seems *nervous* about the presentation.
In each of these examples, the adjective follows a linking verb and provides more information about the subject of the sentence.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Learning to use predicative adjectives effectively involves avoiding some common mistakes. Here are a few pitfalls and tips on how to steer clear of them:
1. **Confusing Predicative and Attributive Adjectives**:
– Incorrect: The *boring* was movie.
– Correct: The movie was *boring*.
– Tip: Remember that predicative adjectives come after linking verbs.
2. **Using Action Verbs Instead of Linking Verbs**:
– Incorrect: He ran tired.
– Correct: He felt *tired* after running.
– Tip: Use linking verbs to connect the subject with the predicative adjective.
3. **Misplacing Adjectives**:
– Incorrect: The dog is in the yard brown.
– Correct: The dog in the yard is *brown*.
– Tip: Ensure the adjective logically follows the linking verb and directly describes the subject.
Adjectives That Are Commonly Used Predicatively
Some adjectives are more frequently used in the predicative position than in the attributive position. Understanding these can help you construct sentences more naturally. Here are a few examples:
1. **Afraid**: She is *afraid* of spiders.
2. **Alone**: He felt *alone* in the crowd.
3. **Asleep**: The baby is *asleep*.
4. **Glad**: I am *glad* you came.
5. **Ill**: She is *ill* today.
6. **Ready**: Are you *ready* to go?
These adjectives typically do not appear before the noun they modify but rather after a linking verb, providing essential descriptive information about the subject.
Practice and Application
To master the use of predicative adjectives, it’s crucial to practice forming sentences and recognize their structure in reading and listening. Here are some exercises to help you get started:
1. **Sentence Transformation**:
– Transform the following sentences by changing the attributive adjective to a predicative adjective:
1. The happy dog barked loudly.
2. The delicious meal satisfied everyone.
3. The excited children ran to the park.
– Answers:
1. The dog is *happy* and barked loudly.
2. The meal was *delicious* and satisfied everyone.
3. The children are *excited* and ran to the park.
2. **Identify and Correct Errors**:
– Find and correct the errors in the following sentences:
1. The cake tastes sweetly.
2. He looks happily.
3. The sky appears grayly.
– Answers:
1. The cake tastes *sweet*.
2. He looks *happy*.
3. The sky appears *gray*.
3. **Creative Writing**:
– Write a short paragraph describing your favorite place using at least five predicative adjectives. For example:
– My favorite place is the beach. The sand is *warm* and the water feels *cool*. The sky looks *blue* and the sound of the waves is *calming*. I always feel *relaxed* there.
Advanced Concepts
For those looking to deepen their understanding of predicative adjectives, exploring some advanced concepts can be beneficial.
Compound Predicative Adjectives
Sometimes, sentences may contain compound predicative adjectives, where more than one adjective describes the subject. For example:
– The weather is *cold and windy*.
– The room felt *dark and stuffy*.
In these cases, both adjectives are connected by a conjunction (and) and collectively describe the subject.
Adjective Complements
Adjective complements provide additional information about the adjective itself. They can be in the form of prepositional phrases, infinitives, or clauses. For example:
– She is *happy* with her new job.
– He is *eager* to learn.
– They were *certain* that they would win.
The complements “with her new job,” “to learn,” and “that they would win” provide more context to the adjectives “happy,” “eager,” and “certain.”
Conclusion
Understanding and using predicative adjectives is an essential skill for English learners. By mastering the use of linking verbs, recognizing common pitfalls, and practicing regularly, you can enhance your descriptive abilities and create more vivid, accurate sentences. Remember, predicative adjectives provide valuable information about the subject of your sentence, and using them correctly will make your English more precise and expressive. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find that using predicative adjectives becomes second nature.
