predikatsliðum

Predikatsliður, or predicative complement, is a syntactic element in Icelandic clauses that completes the meaning of the subject by naming a property, identity, or state. It typically follows a linking verb such as vera (to be), verða (to become), virðast (to seem), or gerast (to become).

Forms and examples vary. A common type is a predicative adjective (lýsingarorð) placed after the verb: e.g., Húsið er gamalt (The house is old). Here the adjective describes the subject and agrees with it in number and gender, though predicative use can behave differently than attributive use in some inflectional details. Another main type is a predicative noun phrase: Hann er kennari (He is a teacher) or Hún er læknir (She is a doctor). In these cases the complement is a noun in its base form that expresses identity or occupation.

Predikatsliður can also take forms such as prepositional phrases to express state or location, for example Hún er á leiðinni (She is on the way). While these phrases describe a current state rather than a property of the subject, they function as predicative complements in many constructions.

Syntactically, predikatsliður is distinct from the subject and from object phrases. It provides information about the subject via a linking verb and can be singular or plural to agree with the subject. In Icelandic grammar, the predikatsliður is closely related to the concept of predicative complements in other languages and is a key element in expressing identity, classification, or temporary state.