Use Predicate Adjectives Correctly

Skill

Use Predicate Adjectives Correctly

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Certain adjectives appear only in the predicate of the sentence; that is, they appear after a linking verb such as be, and they cannot appear directly in front of the nouns that they describe.

  • The snake on the rock was alive.
  • The alive* snake was lying on the rock.

In the first example, the predicate adjective alive is used correctly after the linking verb was to describe the subject snake. In the second example, the predicate adjective alive is used incorrectly in front of the noun snake. In this position, the adjective live should be used.

The following lists some common predicate adjectives and the corresponding forms that can be used in front of a noun:

PREDICATE ADJECTIVES

  • Predicate Adjective: alike
    • Form for Front of Noun: like, similar
  • Predicate Adjective: alive
    • Form for Front of Noun: live, living
  • Predicate Adjective: alone
    • Form for Front of Noun: lone
  • Predicate Adjective: afraid
    • Form for Front of Noun: frightened
  • Predicate Adjective: asleep
    • Form for Front of Noun: sleeping

A predicate adjective appears after a linking verb such as be. It cannot appear directly in front of the noun that it describes.

Exercise

Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned:

Each of the following sentences contains a predicate adjective or its related form. Circle the predicate adjectives or related forms. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

  1. The two brothers do not look at all alike.
  2. My friend brought the alive lobster to my house and expected me to cook it.
  3. Are you going to be lone in the house tonight?
  4. The afraid child cried for his mother.
  5. Everyone else was asleep by the time I arrived home.
  6. We completed our two projects in a like manner.
  7. All of the crash victims were alive when they were found.
  8. She tried to walk quietly by the asleep dogs without waking them.
  9. Were you feeling afraid when you heard the noise?
  10. According to the report, the president was shot by an alone gunman.

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