1. Understand Linking Verbs:
* Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a word that renames or describes it.
* Common linking verbs include: be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being), seem, appear, become, feel, look, smell, taste, sound.
2. Identify the Subject:
* Find the subject of the sentence. It's the noun or pronoun performing the action or being described.
3. Ask Questions:
* For Predicate Adjectives: Ask yourself, "What is the subject like?" or "What quality does the subject have?"
* For Predicate Nouns: Ask yourself, "What is the subject?" or "Who is the subject?"
4. Analyze the Word After the Linking Verb:
* Predicate Adjective: If the word after the linking verb describes the subject, it's a predicate adjective.
* Predicate Noun: If the word after the linking verb renames the subject, it's a predicate noun.
Examples:
* "The sky is blue."
* Subject: Sky
* Linking verb: is
* "Blue" describes the sky, so it's a predicate adjective.
* "My brother is a doctor."
* Subject: Brother
* Linking verb: is
* "Doctor" renames the brother, so it's a predicate noun.
* "The music sounds lovely."
* Subject: Music
* Linking verb: sounds
* "Lovely" describes the music, so it's a predicate adjective.
* "She became a teacher."
* Subject: She
* Linking verb: became
* "Teacher" renames "she," so it's a predicate noun.
Remember:
* Predicate adjectives modify the subject.
* Predicate nouns rename or re-identify the subject.