Secondary predicate

A secondary predicate is a (mostly adjectival) predicative expression that conveys information about the subject but is not the main predicate of the clause.

Subtypes

• depictive secondary predicate (e.g. She drinks her coffee black)
• resultative secondary predicate (e.g. She painted the door green)

Synonyms

• copredicate
• predicative attribute
• predicate (i.e. secondary predicate) (sometimes used in generative syntax)

Origin

One of the earliest uses is Nichols (1978).

References

• Nichols, Johanna. 1978. "Secondary Predicates." Berkeley Linguistic Society 4:114-127.