How to Find a Predicate Nominative in a Sentence

A predicate nominative is a word that renames the subject of a sentence. It is found after the linking verb in the predicate of the sentence. A predicate nominative is also called a predicate noun because it is always a noun. To find the predicate nominative, find the word after the linking verb that can replace the subject.

Here are the 3 steps to finding a predicative nominative in a sentence:

1. Find the subject

The subject of the sentence is the noun that the sentence is about.

For example:

Consider this sentence: "Mr. Johnson was my teacher." In this case, the subject is "Mr. Johnson."

2. Find the linking verb

Linking verbs include the state-of-being verbs am, is, are, was, were, being and been.

For example:

Let's use the same sentence: "Mr. Johnson was my teacher." In this sentence, the linking verb is "was."

3. Find the noun in the predicate that renames the subject

The predicate is the part of the sentence that includes the verb and all of the words that follow the verb.

For example:

Let's use the same sentence: "Mr. Johnson was my teacher." The noun in the predicate is "teacher." "Teacher" is the predicate nominative.

Tip

To check for accuracy, flip the subject and predicate. "My teacher was Mr. Johnson." If they can be flipped, because they are the same person or thing, you have correctly identified the predicate nominative.