Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives and predicate nouns

Key Notes:

What is a Linking Verb?

👉 A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that gives more information about the subject.
It does not show action. 🚫🏃‍♂️

🧩 Common Linking Verbs:
➡️ am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
➡️ become, seem, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, remain

📘 Examples:

• She is a doctor. 👩‍⚕️
• The soup tastes delicious. 🍜
• They were tired. 😴

Predicate Noun (Predicate Nominative)

👉 A predicate noun (or predicate nominative) is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject.

🧠 Formula:
Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Noun

📘 Examples:

• My brother is a teacher. 👨‍🏫
  → “teacher” renames “brother.”
• The winner was he. 🏆

⭐ Tip: Predicate nouns are nouns/pronouns that tell who or what the subject is.

Predicate Adjective

👉 A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject.

🧠 Formula:
Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Adjective

📘 Examples:

• The sky looks blue. ☁️
• The food smells good. 🍲
• They are happy. 😊

⭐ Tip: Predicate adjectives describe how the subject feels, looks, sounds, or seems.

How to Identify Them?

🔹 Step 1: Find the verb in the sentence.
🔹 Step 2: Check if the verb shows action or just links the subject to something.
🔹 Step 3: If it links — look at the word that follows:

• If it’s a noun/pronoun, ➡️ Predicate Noun 🧍
• If it’s an adjective, ➡️ Predicate Adjective 🌼

Quick Review Chart

🔤 Sentence	🔗 Linking Verb	🧍 Predicate Noun	🌼 Predicate Adjective
She is a singer.	is	singer	—
The flowers are beautiful.	are	—	beautiful
He became a leader.	became	leader	—
The milk smells sour.	smells	—	sour

Remember!

✅ Action Verbs → Show what the subject does
✅ Linking Verbs → Show what the subject is or feels