predikativum

Predikativum is a grammatical term referring to a word or phrase that completes the meaning of a verb, typically a linking verb, and describes or identifies the subject of the sentence. In English, the most common linking verbs are forms of "to be" such as is, am, are, was, and were. Other linking verbs include verbs of senses like "look," "sound," "smell," "taste," and "feel," as well as verbs related to state or change like "become," "seem," "appear," "remain," and "grow."

Predikativa can be either a noun phrase (a noun with its modifiers) or an adjective phrase (an adjective with its modifiers). When a noun phrase functions as a predikativum, it is called a predicate nominative, and it renames the subject. For example, in the sentence "She is a doctor," the noun phrase "a doctor" is the predicate nominative, identifying what "she" is. When an adjective phrase functions as a predikativum, it is called a predicate adjective, and it describes the subject. For instance, in the sentence "The soup tastes delicious," the adjective phrase "delicious" is the predicate adjective, describing the "soup."

The predikativum is essential for constructing complete sentences with linking verbs, providing crucial information about the subject's identity or state. It is a fundamental concept in understanding sentence structure and the role of verbs in grammar. The term is widely used in linguistic analysis across various languages, though specific terminology might differ.