prädikativs

Prädikativs, also known as predicatives or predicate nouns/adjectives, are a grammatical element within a sentence that provides additional information about the subject. They typically follow a linking verb, such as "sein" (to be), "werden" (to become), or "bleiben" (to remain) in German. The prädikativ describes the state, identity, or characteristic of the subject.

There are two main types of prädikativs: the nominal prädikativ and the verbal prädikativ, which is further divided into prädikativum substantivum and prädikativum adjectivum. A prädikativum substantivum is a noun or pronoun that renames or identifies the subject. For example, in the sentence "Er ist ein Lehrer" (He is a teacher), "ein Lehrer" functions as a nominal prädikativ, identifying what "Er" (He) is. A prädikativum adjectivum is an adjective that describes a quality or characteristic of the subject. In "Sie ist glücklich" (She is happy), "glücklich" is a prädikativum adjectivum, describing the state of "Sie" (She).

The prädikativ agrees in case with the subject, which is usually in the nominative case in German when following linking verbs. This agreement is a key feature distinguishing prädikativs from direct objects, which typically appear in the accusative case. Understanding prädikativs is crucial for accurate sentence construction and comprehension in German grammar.