Subjektprädikativ

Subjektprädikativ refers to a grammatical element in German that describes or characterizes the subject of a sentence. It is closely linked to the subject and functions as a predicate complement, providing further information about the subject's state, identity, or quality. Unlike a direct object, the Subjektprädikativ is not directly affected by the verb's action.

This element typically appears with specific verbs, most commonly the verb "sein" (to be), but also with verbs of becoming, remaining, or appearing, such as "werden" (to become), "bleiben" (to remain), and "scheinen" (to seem). For instance, in the sentence "Er ist ein guter Schüler" (He is a good student), "ein guter Schüler" is the Subjektprädikativ, describing the subject "Er."

The Subjektprädikativ agrees in case with the subject. With "sein," it usually appears in the nominative case. If the Subjektprädikativ is a noun or pronoun, it will match the gender and number of the subject. If it is an adjective, it will be declined according to the gender, number, and case of the subject. Understanding the Subjektprädikativ is crucial for correct German sentence construction and comprehension, as it clarifies the relationship between the subject and its descriptive complement.