What Is a Predicate Pronoun?
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
What Is a Predicate Pronoun?
The presenter will be she.
The culprit is you?
If you continue your method acting of that character, you will become he.
You probably use or recognize statements expressed in ways such as these. It’s also possible that when speaking colloquial English you might use an object pronoun rather than a subject pronoun in the predicate:
Examples
The presenter will be her.
If you continue your method acting of that character, you will become him.
Using an object pronoun in the predicate would be understood but incorrect. This is because the example sentences thus far call for a predicate pronoun, which is a pronoun that renames or identifies the subject noun in the subjective case.
presenter = she
culprit = you
you = he
Predicate pronouns are also known as subject complements and predicate nominatives. In each instance, there is a subject, a verb (linking verb), and a pronoun that mirrors the subject.
presenter > will be > she
culprit > is > you
you > will become > he
Predicate Pronouns: More Usage and Examples
Let’s look at more predicate pronouns being properly used with a subject and a linking verb:
The Wilsons are moving in next door, so our new neighbors will be they.
My source of inspiration has always been you.
Today’s hosts of the event are we.
While these sentences are grammatically correct, a writer or speaker may feel that some constructions with a predicate pronoun sound stilted or overly formal (e.g., ending a sentence with we, as in the hosts are we).
If this is the case, a sentence can simply be recast by changing the predicate pronoun to a nominative subject—in other words, by switching the subject and pronoun positions:
Our new neighbors will be they > They will be our new neighbors
Today’s hosts of the event are we > We are today’s hosts of the event
The presenter will be she > She will be the presenter
Predicate Pronouns: Not Direct Objects
Understanding what a predicate pronoun is can be reinforced by recognizing what a predicate pronoun is not.
A predicate pronoun is never an object. To the contrary, it serves only to provide additional information about the sentence subject. For this reason, a predicate pronoun will always follow a linking verb such as be or become because it conveys a state of being in relation to the subject as opposed to completing the action of a verb.
State of being: The presenter will be she.
Action: She will present the quarterly report.State of being: If you continue your method acting of that character, you will become he.
Action: Your method acting is fully embodying that character.
The sentences that include a state-of-being verb (will be, will become) have a following predicate pronoun (she, he) that relates to the subject (presenter = she, you = he).
The sentences with an action verb (will present, is embodying) include an object being acted upon (report, character). The presence of the object helps complete the action.
Beyond Predicate Pronouns: Nouns and Adjectives
As already shown, predicate pronouns are not the only subject complements that can follow sentence subjects and linking verbs. Predicate nouns and adjectives can be subject complements as well.
Examples: Predicate Nouns
She will be the presenter.
You are the culprit.
If you continue your method acting, you will become that character.
Examples: Predicate Adjectives
Her presentation was convincing.
Your culpability is certain.
Your method acting became all-consuming.
Also note that a predicate pronoun differs from a pronoun that appears in a clause in either an object or nominative position.
Examples: Predicate Pronoun
The presenter will be she.
The culprit is you?
If you continue your method acting of that character, you will become he.
Examples: Object or Nominative Clause
My belief is she will be the presenter. (predicate-noun clause)
I believe you are the culprit. (direct-object clause)
The director’s hope for the actor is he will become the character. (predicate-noun clause)
Each sentence in the second group includes a pronoun in the subject-complement position, but the pronoun is the subject of a predicate-noun clause as opposed to a predicate pronoun renaming the subject.
Related Topics
What Is a Predicate Adjective?
Nominative Case: Usage and Examples
Predicate Nouns: Usage and Examples
Pop Quiz
Identify any predicate pronouns in the following sentences.
1. Marikka thinks she is the right candidate for the job.
2. The first person to know about the decision will be you.
3. Their preferred contacts are you and I.
4. Our next division director will be he, and he is an efficient corporate strategist.
5. The truth is they are ready to close the deal right now.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Marikka thinks she is the right candidate for the job. no predicate pronouns
2. The first person to know about the decision will be you.
3. Their preferred contacts are you and I.
4. Our next division director will be he, and he is an efficient corporate strategist.
5. The truth is they are ready to close the deal right now. no predicate pronouns
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
“Each sentence in the second group includes a pronoun in the subject-complement position, but the pronoun is the subject of a predicate-noun clause as opposed to a predicate pronoun renaming the subject.”
To help me distinguish between the two, I mentally add the elided subordinating conjunction “that” to the dependent clause; doing so makes it clear (to me, anyway) that the pronoun in such a sentence is functioning as the subject of the dependent clause rather than as a predicate pronoun renaming the subject:
My belief is THAT she will be the presenter. (predicate-noun clause)
I believe THAT you are the culprit. (direct-object clause)
The director’s hope for the actor is THAT he will become the character. (predicate-noun clause)
Your interpretation is correct.