Exercise 7, Item 1: Identify and classify the subject complement in 'Do the strawberries on this vine look ripe to you?'

ripe — predicate adjective (modifies the subject strawberries after the linking verb phrase Do look)

Exercise 7, Item 6: Identify and classify the subject complements in 'Pablo Casals was not only a brilliant cellist but also a sensitive conductor of orchestras.'

cellist — predicate nominative; conductor — predicate nominative (Note: brilliant and sensitive modify cellist and conductor, not the subject Pablo Casals.)

Exercise 7, Item 20: Identify and classify the subject complements in 'Very sleek, very red, and incredibly powerful is Eric's dream car.'

sleek, red, powerful — compound predicate adjective (placed before the linking verb is and the subject car for emphasis)

What is a subject complement and what are the two kinds of subject complements in Chapter 2?

According to Rule 2k, a subject complement is a word or word group in the predicate that identifies or modifies the subject of a linking verb. The two kinds of subject complements are: (1) a predicate nominative, which is a noun, pronoun, or noun-equivalent word group that identifies or refers to the subject, and (2) a predicate adjective, which is an adjective in the predicate that modifies the subject of a linking verb.

Why are 'bold' and 'courageous' predicate adjectives in 'The epic hero Beowulf was bold and courageous', but NOT predicate adjectives in 'The epic hero Beowulf was a bold and courageous warrior'?

A predicate adjective must directly modify the subject of the linking verb. In 'Beowulf was bold and courageous', the adjectives bold and courageous directly modify the subject Beowulf. In 'Beowulf was a bold and courageous warrior', the noun warrior is the predicate nominative identifying Beowulf, and the adjectives bold and courageous modify the noun warrior rather than the subject Beowulf.

Can a subject complement appear at the beginning of a sentence before the subject and linking verb?

Yes. For emphasis or in questions and exclamations, a writer may place a predicate nominative or predicate adjective before the subject and linking verb—such as 'Who are the people over there?', 'How musty the rooms in this empty house smell!' (Item 8), or 'Very sleek, very red, and incredibly powerful is Eric's dream car' (Item 20).

Holt Traditions Warriner's Handbook Sixth Course Chapter 2: Subject Complements Answers (Exercise 7)

Holt Traditions • Warriner's Handbook • Sixth Course

Chapter 2: Subject Complements (Rule 2k & Exercise 7)
Identifying Predicate Nominatives and Predicate Adjectives Answer Key

Grammar • Usage • Mechanics • Sentences

Subject Complements After Linking Verbs • Predicate Nominatives vs. Predicate Adjectives • Interactive Study Guide

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What Is a Subject Complement? (Predicate Nominatives vs. Predicate Adjectives)

A subject complement is a word or word group in the predicate that identifies or modifies the subject of a linking verb. In Chapter 2 (Rule 2k) of Holt Traditions: Warriner's Handbook, Sixth Course, subject complements are divided into two types:

1. Predicate Nominative — Rule 2k(1) (Single Underline)

Definition: A noun, a pronoun, or a word group functioning as a noun that appears in the predicate and identifies, renames, or refers to the subject of a linking verb.
Examples: Robert Hayden is my favorite poet. • The last people off the bus were Julie and I.

2. Predicate Adjective — Rule 2k(2) (Double Underline)

Definition: An adjective in the predicate that modifies or describes the subject of a linking verb (such as forms of be, appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn).
Examples: Your lotus-blossom necklace is lovely. • Freedom is precious and costly.

3. Inverted Subject Complements (Style Tip)

Definition: For emphasis (or in questions and exclamations), a writer may place the predicate nominative or predicate adjective before the subject and the linking verb.
Examples: Who are the people over there? • Hungry and weary were the refugees. • How musty the rooms in this empty house smell!

Academic Honor Code & Ethical Study Policy

Important Notice for Students, Parents, and Educators: This comprehensive grammar guide and interactive answer key is published strictly for educational help, academic support, self-checking, and concept mastery—NOT for cheating or copying homework. Study the rules on predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives below, solve Exercise 7 (Items 1–20) independently first, and then click Click to Show Answer below each item to check your work.

Complete Lesson Explanation: Subject Complements (Rule 2k)

Rule 2k: A subject complement is a complement that identifies or modifies the subject of a linking verb.
Like other kinds of complements, the two kinds of subject complements—the predicate nominative and the predicate adjective—appear in the predicate.

1. Predicate Nominatives — Rule 2k(1)

Rule 2k(1): A predicate nominative identifies or refers to the subject of a linking verb.
A predicate nominative may be a noun, a pronoun, or a word group that functions as a noun, and it may be simple or compound:

• Noun Predicate Nominative: Robert Hayden is my favorite poet. (The noun poet identifies the subject Robert Hayden.)

• Pronoun Predicate Nominative (in a Question): Who are the people over there? (The interrogative pronoun Who refers to the subject people.)

• Infinitive Phrase Predicate Nominative: The object of the game is to trap your opponent in a corner. (The infinitive phrase to trap your opponent in a corner identifies the subject object.)

• Compound Predicate Nominatives:
— The four most populous states are California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
— The last people off the bus were Julie and I.

• Inverted Predicate Nominative (Style Tip): What a truly amazing coincidence that is! (The noun coincidence identifies the subject that.)

2. Predicate Adjectives — Rule 2k(2)

Rule 2k(2): A predicate adjective is an adjective that is in the predicate and that modifies the subject of a linking verb.
Like predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives may be simple or compound, and they may appear after any linking verb (not just forms of be):

• After a Form of Be: Your lotus-blossom necklace is lovely. (The adjective lovely modifies the subject necklace.)

• After a Sensory Linking Verb: Does the cottage cheese smell sour? (The adjective sour modifies the subject cottage cheese.)

• Proper Adjective as Predicate Adjective: That small wood flute is South American. (The proper adjective South American modifies the subject flute.)

• Compound Predicate Adjectives:
— Freedom is precious and costly.
— Has the weather turned cold, wet, and foggy?

• Inverted Predicate Adjectives (Style Tip): Hungry and weary were the refugees. (The adjectives Hungry and weary modify the subject refugees.)

{alertWarning}Crucial Textbook NOTE — Not Every Adjective in the Predicate Is a Predicate Adjective!
Do not assume that every adjective in the predicate is a predicate adjective. Keep in mind that a predicate adjective must modify the subject of a linking verb—not a noun inside the predicate:
• PREDICATE ADJECTIVES: The epic hero Beowulf was bold and courageous. (Here bold and courageous are predicate adjectives because they modify the subject Beowulf.)
• NOT PREDICATE ADJECTIVES: The epic hero Beowulf was a bold and courageous warrior. (Here warrior is a predicate nominative, and the adjectives bold and courageous modify the noun warrior—so they are NOT predicate adjectives!)
Apply this exact rule in Exercise 7 (Items 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 17)!

{alertInfo}HELP Note — Action Verbs vs. Linking Verbs:
When identifying kinds of complements, always check first to see whether the verb in the sentence is an action verb or a linking verb:
• Only action verbs can take direct objects, indirect objects, and objective complements.
• Only linking verbs can take subject complements (predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives).

{alertSuccess}Meeting the Challenge — Real-World Extension Activity:
To master all four core complements (direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, and predicate adjective), scan articles in newspapers or magazines and highlight one sentence illustrating each complement type. Checking whether the verb shows action or links the subject to a description will immediately tell you which family of complements you are looking at!

Exercise 7: Identifying Predicate Nominatives and Predicate Adjectives (Items 1–20)

Directions: Identify the subject complement in each of the following sentences. Indicate whether the complement is a predicate nominative or a predicate adjective.

Textbook Example 1. In Latvian mythology, Meness is the god of the moon and the protector of travelers and soldiers.
Answer: 1. god—predicate nominative; protector—predicate nominative

1 Do the strawberries on this vine look ripe to you?

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