Sentence Diagramming

1
Sentence Diagramming

• Part 4
• Linking Verbs, Predicate Adjectives, and
  Predicate Nominatives

2
What is a Predicate Nominative?

• A Predicate Nominative
• Is a NOUN or PRONOUN
• That follows a LINKING VERB
• And that refers back to the SUBJECT of the
  sentence
• Is sometimes called a Predicate Noun

• Examples
• Jadier Molina is the catcher.
• The Cardinals are a team.

Linking verb
Predicate nominative(noun)
Linking verb
Predicate nominative(noun)
3
Diagramming Predicate Nominatives

• A PREDICATE NOMINATIVE (Predicate Noun) is just
  like a direct object, except
• It follows a LINKING VERB.
• It is diagrammed on the baseline with the subject
  and verb.
• A diagonal line separates the verb and the
  predicate nominative.

Example Jadier Molina is the catcher.
Jadier Molina
is
catcher
subject - noun
linking verb
predicate nominative
4
More Predicate Nominative Practice

1. Tony LaRusa is the team manager.

is
Tony LaRusa
manager
subject
linking verb
Predicate nominative

1. The Cardinals are the winners.

are
Cardinals
winners
subject
linking verb
Predicate nominative

1. The outfielders were an embarrassment.

were
outfielders
embarrassment
subject
linking verb
Predicate nominative
5
What is a Predicate Adjective?

• A Predicate Adjective is
• An ADJECTIVE (describing word)
• That follows a LINKING VERB, and
• describes the SUBJECT of the sentence.

Example The umpire is terrible.
umpire
is
terrible
subject - noun
linking verb
predicate adjective
6
More Predicate Adjective Practice

1. The crowd was fanatical.

was
crowd
fanatical
subject
linking verb
Predicate Adjective

1. This game is exciting!

is
game
exciting
subject
linking verb
Predicate Adjective

1. The new stadium will be awesome!

awesome
will be
stadium
subject
linking verb
Predicate Adjective
7
PA PN vs. Direct Objects?

• Predicate Nominatives (PN) and Predicate
  Adjectives (PA) are similar to direct objects
  (DO), except
• They follow a linking verb,
• They refer back to the subject (D.O. does not)
• They are diagrammed with a diagonal line.
• When determining a PA, PN, or DO, always
• LOOK AT THE VERB
• Linking Verb PA or PN
• Action Verb DO

8
PA, PN, DO Practice

1. The third-base coach was flabbergasted!

was
flabbergasted
coach
subject
linking verb
Predicate Adjective

1. The St. Louis Cardinals scored nine runs in the
   eighth inning.

scored
Cardinals
runs
subject
action verb
Direct Object

1. Matt Morris should have been the pitcher.

pitcher
should have been
Matt Morris
subject
linking verb(Verb Phrase)
Predicate Nominative