Prädikativieren

Prädikativieren is a term used in linguistics, particularly in German grammar, to describe the process of making something into a predicate. A predicate is the part of a sentence that contains a verb and states something about the subject. When an element is prädikativiert, it functions as part of the predicate, often describing a state, quality, or action of the subject. This can occur with various parts of speech. For example, a noun can be prädikativiert when it follows a copular verb like "sein" (to be) and describes the subject, such as in the sentence "Er ist Lehrer" (He is a teacher), where "Lehrer" is prädikativiert. Similarly, adjectives can be prädikativiert, as in "Das Wetter ist schön" (The weather is beautiful), with "schön" acting as a predicative adjective. This grammatical function allows for a richer description of the subject by connecting it to a characteristic or identity through the verb. The concept distinguishes between attributive use, where an adjective modifies a noun directly (e.g., "ein schönes Wetter"), and predicative use, where it describes the subject after a linking verb.