andpredicative

Andpredicative, or and-predication, is a term used in linguistics to describe a type of predication in which two predicates are conjoined by the conjunction and within a single predicative clause. In other words, the subject is ascribed two properties or features that are linked by and, typically expressed with a copular verb such as be in English.

A canonical example in English is: The cat is small and fluffy. Here, small and fluffy both apply to the same subject, with the predication viewed as the conjunction of two property predicates. This contrasts with simple predication where a single predicate is asserted, or with cases where two clauses would be coordinated separately.

Syntactically and-predication can be realized in several ways. In many languages, the and-predicate is realized by coordinating adjectives, participles, or other predicative elements within the same clause. In some languages, the conjunction may be embedded inside a single predicate phrase, while in others, it appears as a coordinate structure that takes the copula as a shared element. The precise mechanism can affect prosody, morphology, and the distribution of adjectives or verbs.

Semantically, and-predication is typically treated as the conjunction of two properties applied to the same argument. This yields readings that are usually (but not always) distributive across the subject: each item described by the subject carries both properties. Some cases allow more complex readings, including emphasis or scope interactions with other operators.

See also: predication, conjoined predicates, coordinate structure, copular clauses.