Introducing Predicate Noun Phrases in Advanced IFL Classes

Abstract

A predicate noun phrase is a unique structure in Indonesian. To construct the sentence containing this structure, we simply combine a first noun phrase functioned as a subject of the sentence and a second one functioned as its predicate. However, there is a certain rule regulating the structure. This paper attempts to identify a certain kind of noun phrases which functions as a predicate of a sentence especially for the advanced IFL students. The discussion is focussed on the internal requirements of a predicate noun phrase and then followed by the identification of its external requirements. Since there is an overlap between this type of sentence and that of an identificational sentence, the discussion on distinguishing the two different structures is also presented. The data confirm that the identificational predicate might be categorized as a predicate verb phrase if it is preceeded by a copulative verb adalah. The ability to identify this type of sentence structure is very important for the IFL students.

Keywords: IFL, predicate noun phrase, internal/external requirement, identificational predicate