Sentence Pattern 5 and Predicate Adjectives
The Pattern 5 sentence has this word order: subject noun + linking verb + predicate adjective
(SN + LV + PrA). Pattern 5 is the same as Pattern 4 in that they both have linking verbs. Pattern 5 is
different from Pattern 4 because it has an adjective (instead of a noun) in the predicate that modifies
only the subject noun. This adjective is called a predicate adjective. It describes the subject, so the
linking verb acts as an equal sign connecting the adjective (after the verb) back to the subject.
To find a predicate adjective, always ask the adjective question what kind of subject? after the verb.
A predicate adjective comes after a linking verb that links or connects it to the subject. A predicate
adjective is labeled PrA. In the following example, you can place the adjective in front of dress and
see that it is modifying the dress (the SN).
Example sentence for tbe exact words to say to find the linking verb and predicate adjective.
1. Her new dress is magnificent!
2. What is magnificent? dress – SN
3. What is being said about dress? dress is – V
4. Dress is what? magnificent – verify the adjective
5. What kind of dress? magnificent – PrA (Say: magnificent - predicate adjective.)
6. ls – LV
7. What kind of dress? new – adj
8. Whose dress? Her – PPA
9. Check the verb – linking verb
10. Check again for prepositional phrases.
11. No prepositional phrases.
12. Exclamation point, strong feeling, exclamatory sentence.
13. Go back to the verb. Divide the complete subject from the complete predicate.
14. Is there an adverb exception? No.
15. Is this sentence in a natural or inverted order? Natural – no change.
LINKING VERBS
I. The Irregular Verb – To Be
You need to memorize and master the conjugation of to be.
am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Examples:
Present Tense: Singular: is (The boy is nice.)
am (I am here.) Am is used only with the pronoun I.
Plural:
are (The classes are interesting.)
Past Tense:
Singular: was (The person was alone.)
Plural:
were (Some ducks were on the lake.)
II. Linking Verbs
Linking verbs DO NOT SHOW ACTION. They link the subject with a noun or pronoun, or they link
the subject with an adjective (describing word). The noun or adjective in the predicate part of the
sentence refers back to the subject, either renaming it or describing it. Linking verbs act as equal signs
connecting the predicate noun or adjective to the subject.
Examples: His mother is a lawyer. mother = lawyer
The winners of the game were they in blue shirts. Winners = they
Marv became sick after the high jump. Mary = sick
Please note: There are three easy aspects of linking verbs:
A. Linking verbs never show action.
B. Linking verbs always link the subject with something.
C. Linking verbs appear as a separate list.
III. The following list of linking verbs must be memorized and mastered:
to feel
to taste
to look
to smell
to become
to seem
to sound
to grow
to remain
to appear
to stay
to be ( is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been)
To check if a verb (other than to be) is serving as a linking verb in a sentence, replace the verb with a
form of to be. If the sentence makes sense and the meaning is not changed, the verb serves as a linking
verb.
Example: Joe seemed angry today.
Joe was angry today.
(seemed is a linking verb)
Predicate Adjectives and Linking Verbs
Predicate Adjectives:
A predicate adjective is a describing word that occurs after the verb and goes back to describe the
subject of the sentence.
In order for a word to be a predicate adjective, you must have the following:
A. The sentence must contain a linking verb.
B. The adjective must go back and describe the subject of the sentence.
Examples:
PrA.
1. My wagon is red. (red wagon)
PrA.
2. The man felt' sick. (sick man)
PrA
3. Sharp cheese tastes good. (good cheese)
PrA
4. Birds in our backyard sounded happy. (happy birds)
Note: In the sentence, John wore a blue shirt, blue is NOT a predicate adjective.
The verb wore is NOT a linking verb, and blue describes the shirt, NOT the subject, John.
Compound Predicate Adjectives:
There may be more than one predicate adjective in a sentence.
Examples:
PrA PrA
PrA
1. Our flag is red, white, and blue. (red flag), (white flag), (blue flag)
PrA
PrA
2. The tired child became sleepy and restless. (sleepy child), (restless child)
'Remember that an aid to checking if the verb is linking is to see if you can insert a form of to be for
the verb. If you can, the verb generally will be a linking verb. (The man felt (was) sick.)