predicative — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Modifying a noun from within a predicate.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • of an adjectival or nominal phrase

   Related words

   postpositiveprepositive

   Examples

   in predicative position

Noun

1. An element of the predicate of a sentence which complements the subject or object by means of the verb. Predicatives may be nominal or adjectival.

2. In some languages, a special part of speech used as a predicate and denoting a state of being.

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   A predicative in Russian is an uninflected word that regularly constitutes a complete utterance when standing alone, i.e., when preceded and followed by silence.

   Traditional grammars usually differentiate between neuter short adjectives and predicatives based on whether there is an overt nominative subject; hence курение вредно ‘smoking (noun) is harmful’ is viewed as a clause with nominative subject, zero copula and neuter short form adjective that agrees with the subject in gender, whereas курить вредно (same meaning, literally ‘to smoke is harmful’) is often viewed as an impersonal clause with predicative.

Adjective

1. of adjectives; relating to or occurring within the predicate of a sentence

   Antonyms

   attributive

   Examples

   ‘red’ is a predicative adjective in ‘the apple is red’