Predicate adjectives are common after is (in its various forms) and other copulative verbs, particularly become and seem ([§ 17]).
- The sea is rough to-day.
- Burton soon became cautious in his judgments.
- You seem anxious about your future.
- The air grew hot and sultry.
- Our first experiment proved unsuccessful.
- The milk turned sour.
- Our agent proved trustworthy.
Note. The construction of the predicate adjective is similar to that of the predicate nominative ([§ 88, 2]). Both are known as complements, because they complete the meaning of a verb.
After look, sound, taste, smell, feel, a predicate adjective is used to describe the subject. Thus,—
- Your flowers look thrifty. [Not: look thriftily.]
- Their voices sound shrill. [Not: sound shrilly.]
- This apple tastes sweet. [Not: tastes sweetly.]
- The air smells good. [Not: smells well.]
- The patient feels comfortable. [Not: feels comfortably.]
For predicate adjectives after passive verbs, see [§ 492].
For the use of an adjective as predicate objective, see [§ 104].
THE ARTICLES
173. The adjectives a (or an) and the are called articles.
1. The definite article the points out one or more particular objects as distinct from others of the same kind.