The verb быть is also used in sentences with predicate nouns. What is a predicate? In copular sentences (“to be” type sentences), the subject is the thing you are talking about. The predicate is everything else:
| John wants to be a doctor. |
| John will be a doctor. |
| John was a doctor. |
| John is a doctor. |
A noun that is in the predicate is, cleverly enough, called a predicate noun. Predicate nouns in Russian normally occur in the instrumental case. The only exception is when it is directly a part of a present tense is/am/are phrase, in which case the predicate noun is in the nominative case.
| Иван хочет быть врачом. |
| Иван будет врачом. |
| Иван был врачом. |
| Иван — врач. |
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