Predications can be classified according to the syntactic category of the argument and according to the syntactic category of the predicate. In the example below, the argument of the predication, Jan, has been bracketed:

There are three types of predicative constructions providing an outer structure, and an example of each of them is provided below.

• Complementive:

  In a complementive construction, the presence of the predicate is required by the larger structure in which it occurs. This larger structure generally involves a main verb. The verb in the outer structure cannot occur without the AP. Examples containing copulas occur below:

  Example 4

  
  

  Die kind is sopnat.

  the child be.PRS soup.wet

  The child is sopping wet.

  Example 5

  
  

  Martie bly kwaad vir my.

  Martie stay cross for me

  Martie remains cross with me.

  Example 6

  
  

  Jy het die antwoord verkeerd.

  you have.AUX the answer wrong

  You have got the answer wrong.

• Supplementive:

  In supplementive and appositive constructions, the predication is an optional addition to the outer structure and to a nominal argument in it, for example dronk drunk in example (7) below.

  Example 7

  
  

  Gert het dronk by die deur ingestrompel.

  Gert have.AUX drunk stumbled by the door in

  Gert stumbled in through the door, drunk.

• Appositive:

  In appositive structures, the predication is not integrated in the syntactic structure, as signalled by the comma intonation.

  Example 8

  
  

  Toe gaan Jesus, uitgeput van die reis, by die fontein van Jakob sit.

  then go Jesus, exhausted from the journey, by the fountain of Jacob sit

  Then Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by Jacob's well.