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Concept
Predicative expression
Summary
A predicative expression (or just predicative) is part of a clause predicate, and is an expression that typically follows a copula or linking verb, e.g. be, seem, appear, or that appears as a second complement of a certain type of verb, e.g. call, make, name, etc. The most frequently acknowledged types of predicative expressions are predicative adjectives (also predicate adjectives) and predicative nominals (also predicate nominals). The main trait of all predicative expressions is that they serve to express a property that is assigned to a "subject", whereby this subject is usually the clause subject, but at times it can be the clause object. A primary distinction is drawn between predicative (also predicate) and attributive expressions. Further, predicative expressions are typically not clause arguments, and they are also typically not clause adjuncts. There is hence a three-way distinction between predicative expressions, arguments, and adjuncts.
The terms predicative expression on the one hand, and subject complement and object complement on the other hand overlap in meaning to a large extent.
The most widely acknowledged predicative expressions are adjectives and nominals:
The idea was ridiculous. — Predicative adjective over the subject.
He seems nice. — Predicative adjective over the subject.
Bob is a postman. — Predicative nominal over the subject.
They were all happy campers. — Predicative nominal over the subject.
That shrimp dish made him sick. — Predicative adjective over the object.
We painted the door white. — Predicative adjective over the object.
They elected him president. — Predicative nominal over the object.
They called Jill a thief. — Predicative nominal over the object.
The formulations "over the subject" and "over the object" indicate that the predicative expression is expressing a property that is assigned to the subject or to the object. For example, the predicative expression a thief in the last sentence serves to assign to Jill the property of being a thief.
Official source
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