predicatív

Predicatív is a term used in grammar to describe a predicative function: a part of a clause that completes the meaning of a copular verb by naming a property, state, or identity of the subject or object. It encompasses adjectives, nouns, and pronouns that occur after linking verbs such as be, seem, become, look, or appear.

Examples illustrate the function. The sky is blue. Here blue is a predicative adjective expressing a property of the subject. The winner is John. John functions as a predicative noun (predicative nominal) naming the identity of the subject. The soup tastes delicious also uses a predicative adjective to describe a property of the subject.

This predicative use is distinct from attributive adjectives that occur inside noun phrases, as in a blue sky. Attributive adjectives modify a noun directly, while predicatives follow a linking verb and form part of the predicate of the sentence.

Cross-linguistically, many languages have a designated term for this function, such as Prädikativ in German or predikátiv in some Slavic traditions. In these systems, predicatives may be adjectives, nouns, or pronouns that fulfill the predicate role after a copular verb. Some languages show variations in agreement, case marking, or word order for predicatives, reflecting broader typological differences in how predication is expressed.

In usage, predicatives help express essential properties, states, or identifications of subjects or objects, complementing the subject-predicate structure that underpins many ordinary declarative sentences.