Which term is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject?

• A. Predicate adjective
• B. Subject complements
• C. Predicate nominative
• D. Prepositional phrase

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how an adjective behaves after a linking verb to describe the subject. When a sentence uses a linking verb like is, seems, or becomes, the word that follows it and describes the subject is a predicate adjective. For example, in “The sky is blue,” blue comes after the linking verb is and describes the sky. That exact function—an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject—is what we call a predicate adjective.

A broader term, subject complement, includes both predicate adjectives and predicate nominatives (noun or pronoun that renames the subject, like “The sky is a color” where “color” is a noun). A prepositional phrase, on the other hand, doesn’t serve as a subject complement at all, so it isn’t the correct label here.

So the best term for an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject is the predicate adjective.