Prädikatsobjekts

Prädikatsobjekt is a linguistic term referring to a noun or pronoun that functions as a complement to a copular verb (like "to be," "to become," "to seem"). It describes or identifies the subject of the sentence. This concept is particularly relevant in grammar and syntax discussions.

In German grammar, a Prädikatsobjekt is often translated as "predicate nominative" or "predicate adjective," depending on its form. It follows a copular verb and agrees in case with the subject. For example, in the sentence "Er ist ein Lehrer" (He is a teacher), "ein Lehrer" is the Prädikatsobjekt, identifying the subject "Er." Similarly, in "Sie ist glücklich" (She is happy), "glücklich" functions as a Prädikatsobjekt, describing the subject "Sie."

The primary role of the Prädikatsobjekt is to provide further information about the subject, completing the meaning initiated by the copular verb. It is distinct from a direct object, which receives the action of a transitive verb. Understanding the Prädikatsobjekt is crucial for analyzing sentence structure and grammatical relationships within a language.