A predicate noun or pronoun is diagrammed in this way: Those men are tailors.

The slanting line points toward the subject, "men," because the noun, "tailor," names the same person as the subject.

b. Diagram the first four sentences on page 129.

110. THE PREDICATE ADJECTIVE

In the first sentence below the adjective "happy" completes the predicate, which is a form of the verb be, and modifies the subject, "baby." It is called a predicate adjective. In the second sentence the prepositional phrase, "of great importance," is used instead of a predicate adjective and is called a predicate phrase.

1. The baby is happy.

2. The message was of great importance.

a. In the following sentences select the predicate nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, and the predicate phrases. Apply to each the two tests of completing the predicate when it is some form of the verb be, and naming or modifying the subject.

MODEL: I am sleepy. The adjective "sleepy" helps to make the complete predicate with the verb "am," and modifies the subject, "I." Therefore, "sleepy" is a predicate adjective.

1. I am sleepy.

2. The speech was of great interest.

3. The tiger in our circus was my pet cat.

4. Bees are insects.

5. It is I.

6. You are it.

7. Kings are rulers.

8. The vases in this group are of great value.
9. She has been ill.

10. The story of his life was of great length.
II. Grant was a great general.

b. Diagram sentences 1, 2, 9, and 11.

I inclose in this letter a money order for three dollars and sixty cents ($3.60) in payment.

Yours truly,

Elmer Brown

Compare your
Write another

Copy the above letter correctly. work with the book, line by line. letter to the same company saying that the order was received but the glove is missing. Ask them politely to attend to the matter at their earliest

convenience. Make your letter brief but courteous. Busy men have no time to read long business letters.

112. A LANGUAGE LESSON

Write the verbs that will correctly fill the blanks in the following sentences. Make each verb express the time asked for.

I. I
2. You

3. He

4. We

5. They

6. John

fourteen years of age. (be; present time) generous. (be; present time)

a shaggy dog. (be; present time) natives of New York. (be; present time) dangerous criminals. (be; present time) an honest dealer. (be; present time) 7. Those pupils attentive. (be; present time) 8. The boy a good worker. (be; present time)

9. I

IO. You
II. He

a doctor. (be; future time)

an excellent singer. (be; future time) at home to-morrow. (be; future time) in San Francisco during the Exposition. (be; future time)

12. Many people ·

13. I late to school yesterday. (be; past time, without helper)

14. You

helper)

15. William

16. They

· here at the time. (be; past time, without

the star of the game. (be; past time) lost in the snow. (be; past time, without helper)

17. The dogs tired. (be; past time, without helper)

18. He

19. I

20. He

in the house at nine o'clock. (be; past time, without helper)

ill. (be; past time, with helper)

at school. (be; past time, with helper)

21. You
22. They

23. The men

in Oakland. (be; past time, with helper) here before. (be; past time, with helper) hungry for three days. (be; past

time, with helper)

24. The baby quiet for an hour. (be; past time, with helper)

113. A DRILL, AND REVIEW

In the sentences below there are some words used as objects, some as predicate nouns and pronouns, and some as predicate adjectives. Remember the two tests to apply to the predicate noun, pronoun, or adjective.

a. Copy the sentences. Draw one line under each object. Draw two lines under each predicate noun, pronoun, adjective, or phrase.

1. It is I.

2. She chased me.
3. I saw him.

4. We told them.

5. That girl was she.
6. This boy is he.
7. The cow is dead.

8. We often speak of her.
9. It was we.

10. He told the story.

II.

They are the persons. 12. He did it.

13. The rose is red.

14. It will be they.

15. The baby has been good. 16. Mary went away.

17. John came home.

18. Tom was captain.
19. He is without fear.
20. Alice is "It."

b. From the above sentences make a list of six different pronouns that are used as subjects; make a list of five pronouns that are objects; make a list of six pronouns that are predicate pronouns. Do two of the lists contain the same pronouns? which two?

114. A REVIEW

a. Give the principal parts of the following verbs: do, go, see, give, come, lie, sit, ring, swim, be.

b. Tell the number of the noun and pronoun subjects that can be used with each of the following predicates: has broken, have lost, grows, grew, goes, had worn, were, are, sits, is.

c. Which of the present forms of the verb be is usually the predicate with the pronoun I? with the pronoun you?

d. Select the objects (3), predicate nouns (3), or predicate adjectives (10), in the sentences below. There are two things to remember about predicate nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. What are they?

1. He is the man.

2. John helped James with his arithmetic lesson.
3. The horse is brown.

4. They are good.
5. Is the weather cold?

6. My name is Mary.

7. Los Angeles is a large city in southern California.

8. Mary has been rich.

9. Harry struck the ball.

10. John is present.

II. The boys are young.

12. The birds built a nest in a tree in our garden.

13. Mary is absent.

14. Harry will be tired.

15. You were idle.

16. The sun was bright.

e. Tell the time expressed by the verbs in the sentences above.