Does a predicate nominative rename a noun?

Answer 1

A predicate nominative does not "rename" a noun, but may alter its characterization, such as by expanding or contracting its normal significance. For example, with the simple predicate nominative in bold and the complete predicate nominative underlined, "Plessy v. Ferguson [a Supreme Court case] was a landmark decision of the late 19th century, because it established the legitimacy of 'separate but equal' state facilities for white and colored citizens." In this sentence, Plessy v. Ferguson is the name of the case and is not changed by the predicate nominative, but its importance, compared with the many other cases decided by the Supreme Court in the late 19th century, is shown by the predicate nominative. For another example, with the same typographic conventions as above, "John Adams was a common name in the early years of the United States of America under the Constitution, but one person with that name was distinctly uncommon, because he was President of the United States from March of 1797 through March of 1801.

Answer 2

Yes, a predicate nominative renames the subject of a sentence. It is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and is used to identify or describe the subject.