das  Prädikat

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/pʁɛˈdiːkat/

📖 What does "das Prädikat" mean?

The noun das Prädikat (neuter gender) mainly has two meanings:

• Grammar: The predicate of a sentence, meaning the part that says something about the subject. It usually contains the conjugated verb. For example: In the sentence "Der Hund bellt" (The dog barks), "bellt" is the Prädikat.
• Rating/Distinction: A designation for a special quality level or an honourable assessment. This is often used for wines (Prädikatswein), films (Prädikat: wertvoll - rating: valuable), or academic achievements (Prädikatsexamen - exam passed with distinction). For example: "Dieser Wein erhielt das Prädikat 'Spätlese'" (This wine received the 'Spätlese' distinction).

There is only the article das for this word, which makes it easier to remember.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: das Prädikat

The word "Prädikat" is a noun of neuter gender (das). It follows the strong declension pattern.

Declension of "das Prädikat"

Example Sentences

1. Grammatik: Das Prädikat ist ein zentraler Bestandteil des deutschen Satzes.
   (The predicate is a central component of the German sentence.)
2. Grammatik: Kannst du das Prädikat in diesem Satz bestimmen?
   (Can you identify the predicate in this sentence?)
3. Bewertung: Der Film wurde mit dem Prädikat "besonders wertvoll" ausgezeichnet.
   (The film was awarded the distinction "particularly valuable".)
4. Bewertung: Nur wenige Weine erfüllen die Kriterien für hohe Prädikate.
   (Only a few wines meet the criteria for high quality distinctions/ratings.)
5. Bewertung: Er bestand sein Examen mit Prädikat.
   (He passed his exam with distinction.)

💡 How to use "das Prädikat"?

The use of das Prädikat depends heavily on the context:

• In German lessons or linguistics: Here, it clearly refers to the predicate of the sentence. It's a standard grammatical term.
• In ratings/evaluations: In this context, "Prädikat" stands for an official or recognized quality level or distinction. You might talk about "einem Prädikat" (e.g., "einem Wein ein Prädikat verleihen" - to award a distinction to a wine) or "mit Prädikat" (e.g., "Examen mit Prädikat" - exam with distinction).

Confusion is rare because the contexts (grammar vs. rating) are usually clearly separated. The term is more commonly used in formal or technical contexts.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article: Think of das Prädikat - the ending "-at" in German nouns is often neuter (like das Resultat, das Zitat, das Attentat). Or: Das Prädikat predicts what the subject does. ('das' sounds a bit like 'what').

Meaning: The Prädikat 'predicates' (states/asserts) what the subject does (grammar) or what quality something has (rating). Both are statements or assertions.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

Similar but different words:

• Prädikativ: An adjective or noun that refers to the subject or object and is often used with verbs like 'sein' (to be), 'werden' (to become), 'bleiben' (to remain) (e.g., "Er ist Lehrer." - He is a teacher). It's part of the predicate, but not the predicate itself.
• Prädiktor: A predictor, a factor used to predict an outcome (statistics, psychology).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist das Prädikat in dem Satz 'Die Kuh gibt Milch'?"
Fritzchen überlegt kurz und sagt: "Ganz klar: 'Die Milch' - die wird ja gegeben!"

Teacher asks: "What is the predicate in the sentence 'The cow gives milk'?"
Little Fritz thinks for a moment and says: "Obviously: 'The milk' - it's the thing being given!"

(Of course, 'gibt' (gives) is the actual predicate!)

📜 A Short Poem

Im Satz, da steht es klar und fest,
Das Prädikat, das uns beschreibt den Rest.
Es sagt, was tut, was ist, was war,
Macht den Satz erst richtig wunderbar.

Mal ist's ein Wein, von hoher Güte,
Ein Film, der Preise trägt zur Blüte.
Das Prädikat, stets wertvoll, fein,
Kann Urteil oder Aussage sein.

---

In the sentence, it stands clear and firm,
The Prädikat, describing the rest of the term.
It tells what does, what is, what was done,
Makes the sentence truly number one.

Sometimes a wine, of quality high,
A film with awards reaching for the sky.
Das Prädikat, always precious, neat,
Can be judgment or statement complete.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich sage aus, was jemand tut,
bin im Satz der wichtigste Hut.
Manchmal bin ich auch ein Zeichen,
dass Qualitäten nicht weichen.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Das Prädikat

---

I state what somebody does,
I'm the sentence's main buzz.
Sometimes I am also a sign,
That qualities truly shine.

What am I?

Solution: Das Prädikat

✨ More Tidbits

• Origin: The word comes from the Latin praedicātum, meaning "that which is asserted" (past participle passive of praedicāre = to assert, proclaim, praise).
• Compounds: Common compound words include Prädikatswein (wine of a specific quality level), Prädikatsexamen (exam passed with distinction, often in law or theology), and Prädikatslogik (predicate logic, a branch of logic).