Page 533

533.1 Predicate Nouns

A noun becomes a predicate noun when it follows a be verb (is, are, was, were, been) and repeats or renames the subject.

Salamanders are amphibians. These animals are water-dwellers.

(In these sentences, amphibians renames salamanders, and water-dwellers renames animals.)

533.2 Possessive Nouns

A noun becomes a possessive noun when it shows possession or ownership.

A wetland’s population of amphibians is an insect’s worst nightmare.