prædikative

Prædikative is a term used in linguistics to describe a type of adjective or other word that follows a linking verb and describes or modifies the subject of the sentence. These words are not directly modifying a noun within a noun phrase, but rather are connected to the subject through a verb like "to be," "to seem," "to become," or "to feel."

For example, in the sentence "The sky is blue," "blue" is a prædikative adjective. It follows the linking verb "is" and describes the subject "sky." Similarly, in "She seems happy," "happy" is prædikative, describing "she." The term can also apply to other word classes that function in a similar way, such as nouns or pronouns, as in "He is a doctor" or "It is I."

The prædikative is distinct from attributive adjectives, which precede the noun they modify, as in "the blue sky" or "a happy person." In those cases, "blue" and "happy" are attributive. The primary function of the prædikative is to provide information about the state, quality, or identity of the subject. It completes the meaning initiated by the linking verb, making a statement about the subject. This grammatical construction is common across many languages and is fundamental to sentence structure.