Which term is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject?

• A. Predicate adjective
• B. Direct object
• C. Predicate nominative
• D. Object complement

Answer: (C)

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. Linking verbs like is, are, was, or became connect the subject to information about it, so the word after the verb must refer back to the subject. For example, in “The actor became a star,” the noun after the verb is “star,” which renames the subject and shows what the subject is. A predicate adjective would be an adjective after the linking verb describing the subject, not renaming it, as in “The actor is talented.” A direct object appears with action verbs, not linking verbs, such as in “She wrote a letter.” An object complement follows and refers to the object, not the subject, as in “They named him a fool.”