Nominal predicate and verbal predicate: examples, explanation and differences. Discover in this short guide how to distinguish them.
While studying logical analysis , you may have come across different types of predicate : verbal predicate and nominal predicate. So how can you tell if what you have in front of you is a verbal predicate or a nominal predicate ? How can you tell the difference?
Students are not always able to get it right at first glance, however with a little attention and thanks to examples, the difference between a nominal predicate and a verbal predicate can be easily understood.
Let’s start from an assumption: the predicate , whatever it is, is practically the semantic center of the sentence, what supports the actual structure of the sentence we are considering, and determines the roles of the other elements within it.
The verb describes an action and establishes both who performs it and who undergoes it: this is why, in logical analysis, the advice is to always start from the verb to understand how the sentence is structured.
The differences between the verbal and nominal predicate
The substantial difference between verbal predicate and nominal predicate is that while in the first case the verb “supports” the action alone, without the help of nouns or adjectives that explain its meaning, in the second case the verb cannot exist without another element that details it further. Are you even more confused? Here are some examples to clarify your ideas.
Verbal Predicate: What It Is and Examples
The verbal predicate consists of a predicative verb that regulates the roles of the subject and object within the sentence:
- Mario goes home –> verb go
- Mario has left –> Verb to leave
Verbal forms formed with servile or phrasal verbs (cominciare, stare, sapere) are also considered verbal predicates (unique and complete).
- Mario had to speak in front of everyone
- Mario started talking about his vacation over dinner
If the verb essere has the value of staying, existing, being, remaining, belonging or is followed by simple or articulated prepositions, it is a verbal and not a nominal predicate:
- Mario was on the plane –> He was on the plane
- The pen is Mario’s –> It belongs to Mario
Nominal Predicate: What It Is and Examples
The predicate nominal , as the word itself says, is formed by a verb (called copula ) and a nominal part . What is the purpose of the latter? To better clarify the meaning of the copula, which alone could not support the sentence:
- Mario is nice –> You couldn’t say: Mario is
- Mario is a plumber –> The same applies
But the verb essere is not the only verb that can be in this condition. There are copulative verbs ( Sembrare, Soggiorno, Diventare… ) that have the same value as the verb essere:
- Mario will become a great leader –> He will be
- Mario seems angry –> You couldn’t say Mario seems angry
