Prädikativum

Prädikativum is a grammatical term in German linguistics that refers to a sentence element that complements the subject or the object of a sentence and expresses a characteristic, state, or role. It is often associated with certain verbs that require such a complement to form a complete and meaningful statement.

There are two main types of Prädikativum: das Subjektprädikativ and das Objektprädikativ. The Subjektprädikativ relates to the subject of the sentence. It typically follows linking verbs like "sein" (to be), "werden" (to become), or "bleiben" (to remain). For example, in the sentence "Er ist Arzt" (He is a doctor), "Arzt" is the Subjektprädikativ, describing the profession of the subject "Er". Similarly, in "Sie wurde krank" (She became ill), "krank" is the Subjektprädikativ, indicating the state of the subject "Sie".

The Objektprädikativ, on the other hand, relates to the object of the sentence. It describes a characteristic or state attributed to the object by the action of the verb. Verbs that commonly take an Objektprädikativ include verbs of naming, considering, or perceiving, such as "nennen" (to name), "finden" (to find), or "halten" (to consider). For instance, in "Wir nannten das Kind Peter" (We named the child Peter), "Peter" is the Objektprädikativ, specifying the name given to the object "das Kind". Another example is "Ich halte ihn für einen Freund" (I consider him a friend), where "einen Freund" functions as the Objektprädikativ, characterizing the object "ihn". The Prädikativum often appears in the nominative case when referring to the subject, and typically in the accusative case when referring to the object, though exceptions exist depending on the specific verb and context.