Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or occurring within the predicate of a sentence: In grammar, "predicative" describes a word, especially an adjective, that is used in the predicate to describe the subject. It follows a linking verb (like "be," "seem," "become") and completes the meaning of the subject.
   • Serving to assert or affirm something about the subject: It functions to assign a property or state to the subject of the clause.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • In the sentence "The sky is blue," the word "blue" is a predicative adjective.
  • "Asleep" is typically a predicative adjective; we say "The baby is asleep," not "the asleep baby."
  • The verb "become" is often followed by a predicative complement, as in "She became a doctor."

Advanced Usage

• Predicative Construction: A grammatical structure where a complement follows a copular verb to form the predicate.
  • The phrase "seems unhappy" is a predicative construction.
• Predicative vs. Attributive: A key distinction in adjective usage. Predicative adjectives appear after a linking verb, while attributive adjectives appear directly before the noun they modify.
  • "Alive" is usually predicative ("The fish is alive"), whereas "live" [laɪv] is attributive ("a live fish").

Variants and Related Words

• Predicate (n): The part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject (e.g., "is red" in "The apple is red").
• Predicate (v): To state, affirm, or assert something.
• Predicatively (adv): In a predicative manner.
  • The adjective is used predicatively in that sentence.

Synonyms

• Complementary (in grammatical contexts, referring to a complement in the predicate).
• Assertive (in the general sense of making a statement).

Related Phrases (Grammatical Terms)

• Predicative Adjective: An adjective used in the predicate position.
  • "Ready" is a common predicative adjective ("We are ready").
• Predicative Nominal: A noun or noun phrase used in the predicate to rename or identify the subject.
  • In "He is my friend," "my friend" is a predicative nominal.
• Subject Complement: A broader term encompassing predicative adjectives and nominals that complete the subject via a linking verb.

Adjective

1. of adjectives; relating to or occurring within the predicate of a sentence
   • `red' is a predicative adjective in `the apple is red'