Predicativo

Predicativo, in grammar, refers to a predicative complement (complemento predicativo) that belongs to the predicate and attributes a property or state to the subject or to the object of a sentence. It is usually realized by adjectives, nouns, or prepositional phrases and agrees in gender and number with the entity it describes.

There are two main types: predicativo do sujeito and predicativo do objeto. The predicativo do sujeito describes the subject and typically follows verbs of being or becoming, such as ser, estar, ficar, tornar-se, parecer, ou continuar. Examples: Ela é professora (professora is the predicativo do sujeito); O céu está azul; O candidato tornou-se famoso. In each case the predicate conveys a state or quality of the subject.

The predicativo do objeto describes the object of the action and follows transitive verbs when the object bears a related state or property. Examples: Consideraram-no culpado; Achamos a notícia triste; Viram-no cansado. Here, the predicativo refers to the object and completes the sense of the action.

Predicativos can be adjectives (azul, cansado), nouns in predicative position (ela é engenheira), or other forms that function as a property attribution to the subject or object. They are distinct from the core verb and its direct object, serving to complete the meaning by adding a characteristic or condition. In syntactic analysis, they are treated as part of the predicate structure, providing essential information about how the action or state relates to the entities involved.