English 430
Predicates
Clauses can be completed by an object or objects, by a subject complement and/ or adverbials. The
finite verb of a clause determines how the clause can end. Clauses with action verbs may end in objects
and/or adverbials; clauses with linking verbs may end in a subject complement and/or adverbial.
Additionally, certain verbs will take object complements. You must be able to tell whether the clause has an
action verb or a linking verb. These are the steps to follow in order to determine the predicate of a clause.
1. Identify the main verb of the clause. Be sure it is the main verb of the clause, not the verb of an
embedded finite or non-finite clause or phrase.
2. Determine whether the verb is an action verb or a linking verb.
A. An action verb shows some sort of action.
Joe threw the ball.
She has three children.
B. A linking verb shows state of being. A linking verb links the subject of the sentence to the
predicate. Some linking verbs include forms of 'to be' (is, am, was were, etc.), look, feel, sound,
taste, smell, become, remain, stay, seem, appear and many others.
She is tall. ('tall’ is the subject complement.)
She seems nice. ('nice' is the subject complement.)
She looks nice. ('nice' is the subject complement.)
3. If the verb is an action verb, ask yourself "Subject does what?"
Joe threw the ball.
Joe threw what? The ball. ‘the ball' is the object.)
She has three children.
She has what? Three children. 'three children' is the object.
4. Verbs with direct objects may have indirect objects. Always find the direct object first! Then ask “for
whom or what?”
Tom baked me a cake
Tom baked what? A cake ‘a cake’ is the direct object.
Tom baked a cake for whom? Me. ‘me’ is the indirect object.
4. Remember; the fact that there are words after an action verb doesn't automatically make those words
objects, since action verb sentences don't have to end with objects.
She thought hard.
She does what? The word 'hard' doesn't answer that question. 'hard ' is not an
object. 'hard' is an adverbial.
He ran around the block. 'around the block' is a prepositional phrase functioning
as an adverbial.
5. If the sentence has a linking verb, look for a subject complement. Subject complements are typically
either nouns or adjectives, so if a noun or an adjective follows a linking verb, you can usually be pretty sure
it is the subject complement.
She is a nurse. 'a nurse' is a noun phrase. 'a nurse' is the subject complement.
She seems nice. 'nice’ is an adjective. 'nice' is the subject complement.
She looks nice. 'nice’ is still an adjective, and 'nice' is the subject complement. Notice how
much alike the last two sentences are.
6. If a linking verb is followed by something other than a noun phrase or an adjective phrase, it cannot be a
subject complement.
She remains on the island. 'on the island' is a prepositional phrase.
Although it is true that a prepositional phrase can function as a noun modifier, it must fall immediately after
the noun to function this way. It cannot be separated from the noun by a finite verb phrase. Therefore, if a
prepositional phrase, or another adverbial phrase, falls after a linking verb, it cannot be a subject
complement. It will have to be an adverb.
7. Phrases, non-finite clauses and finite clauses may function as major sentence elements.
She knew that she wanted to go. She knew what? That she wanted to go. 'that she wanted to
go' is the direct object.
8. Certain verbs such as ‘name and ‘call’ will take object complements. An object complement is the
complement of the direct object. It completes the meaning of the direct object.
The class elected Tom president.
The class elected who? Tom ‘Tom’ is the direct object.
The class elected tom what? President ‘president’ is the object complement.