Objektprädikativ

An Objektprädikativ, also known as an accusative object predicative or object predicative, is a grammatical construction in German where a noun or adjective modifies or describes the direct object of a verb. It expresses a state or characteristic that the direct object acquires or possesses as a result of the action of the verb. The Objektprädikativ agrees in case and number with the direct object it refers to.

Common verbs that take an Objektprädikativ include those that express making, calling, finding, considering, or perceiving something or someone to be a certain way. Examples include "nennen" (to call), "machen" (to make), "finden" (to find), "halten für" (to consider as), and "sehen" (to see). For instance, in the sentence "Ich nenne ihn einen Helden" (I call him a hero), "einen Helden" is the Objektprädikativ, referring to and describing the direct object "ihn" (him).

The structure typically follows the pattern Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Objektprädikativ. The Objektprädikativ can be a noun in the accusative case, an adjective in the accusative case, or sometimes a prepositional phrase. If it is an adjective, it agrees in gender, number, and case with the direct object. For example, "Sie fand das Buch interessant" (She found the book interesting), where "interessant" is the Objektprädikativ describing "das Buch" (the book). Understanding the Objektprädikativ is crucial for accurate German grammar and sentence construction.