Mastering Predicate Nouns: Definition, Examples, and Practice

ByDylan Callens

Predicate Nouns Lesson: Help students identify predicate nouns, also called predicate nominatives, after linking verbs. The examples and worksheet contrast nouns that rename a subject with other complements and direct objects.

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Grammar Notes: Predicate Nouns

  • A predicate noun (also called a predicate nominative) renames or identifies the subject of a sentence.

  • Predicate nouns follow a linking verb (most often forms of to be — is, am, are, was, were).

  • The linking verb connects the subject to the predicate noun.

  • Predicate nouns always refer back to the subject, giving it another name or identity.

Examples:

  • My brother is a doctor.

    • “Doctor” is a predicate noun that renames “brother.”

  • The winners were students.

    • “Students” renames “winners.”

  • That movie is a classic.

    • “Classic” is a predicate noun that renames “movie.”

Common Mistakes:

  • Predicate nouns follow linking verbs, not action verbs.

    • ❌ She runs a teacher.

    • ✅ She is a teacher.

Practice Together

Identify the predicate noun in each sentence:

  1. My dog is a golden retriever.

  2. The tallest student is the captain.

  3. Those cookies are a family recipe.

  4. Our neighbors are farmers.

  5. The best time for a walk is evening.

Answer Key

  1. golden retriever
  2. captain
  3. family recipe
  4. farmers
  5. evening

Predicate Nouns Quiz


Student Quiz

Answer Key

Conclusion

Predicate nouns may seem like a small piece of grammar, but understanding them can make writing clearer, smoother, and more precise. They help students recognize how linking verbs connect subjects to new information, creating sentences that identify, rename, or classify with confidence. By learning to spot predicate nouns—and avoiding common mix-ups with action verbs—students gain another tool for building strong, accurate sentences. With practice, these structures become second nature, strengthening both grammar skills and overall communication.

  

Back to the Grammar Lessons

Apply and Extend This Grammar Skill

Exit ticket: Write a sentence with became followed by a predicate noun, and explain which subject it renames.

Next lessons: linking verbs · predicate adjectives explained. Explore the complete Grammar Lessons hub.

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