A complement, as discussed in a previous article, is a word that completes the meaning of the predicate of a sentence. This is not to be confused with a compliment, which is an expression of praise or admiration. Verbs make up the predicate of a sentence. In addition, a sentence will often contain complements as well. Examples of sentence complements include direct objects, indirect objects, subjective complements, and objective complements.
Complements are considered as major parts of sentences in English. However, sentences can still exist without them. Both direct and indirect objects accompany transitive verbs.
Transitive verbs direct action towards a person or a thing named in a sentence. Take a look at this example sentence: The Germans attacked the English. The word attacked is a transitive verb because it directs action to the English. On the other hand, intransitive verbs do not direct action towards a person or thing.
This topic will talk about subjective and objective complements.
THE SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS
‘My puppy is very cute.’ In this sentence, the linking verb is ‘is’ and the subject complement is ‘cute.’Both direct and indirect objects help complete the meaning of sentences with transitive verbs. Meanwhile, a subject complement helps a different type of verb — linking verbs. Unlike transitive verbs, linking verbs do not show action. Instead, they connect a word at or near the beginning of a sentence with a word at or near the end. The most common linking verb is the verb ‘be.’
Now, subject complements are nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. They accompany linking verbs and tell something about the subject of the sentence. As a result, a subject complement is often found after a linking verb.
Take a look at the following examples:
Inception is a brilliant movie.
- Subject – Inception
- Linking verb – is
- Subject complement – movie
I am a writer, too.
- Subject – I
- Linking verb – am
- Subject complement – writer
My puppy is very cute.
- Subject – Puppy
- Linking verb – is
- Subject complement – cute
Robin becomes excited whenever a circus comes to town.
- Subject – Robin
- Linking verb – becomes
- Subject complement – excited
Those strawberries taste sweet.
- Subject – strawberries
- Linking verb – taste
- Subject complement – sweet
Grandpa grew mad.
- Subject – Grandpa
- Linking verb – grew
- Subject complement – mad
Linking Verb or Transitive Verb?
Transitive verbs and intransitive verbs are action verbs. Some linking verbs can function as action verbs, too. So, how do you distinguish which is which? There’s a simple way to determine whether a verb is an action or linking verb. Firstly, determine the verb. Once determined, substitute the verb with either am, are or is. If the sentence sounds logical and still makes sense, the verb is a linking verb. However, if the sentence sounds illogical and makes no sense, the verb is an action verb.
The following are linking verbs: is, are, am, were, was, being, been.
While the following can be either linking or action verbs: appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn.
Following this concept, take a look at the following examples:
Robin becomes excited whenever a circus comes to town.
- Robin is excited whenever a circus comes to town. – Logical, LINKING
I believe that someday, I will become a successful theater actress.
- I believe that someday, I will is a successful theater actress. – Illogical, ACTION
Those strawberries taste sweet.
- Those strawberries are – Logical, LINKING
After forty days in the desert, Jones finally tasted clean water.
- After forty days in the desert, Jones finally is clean water. – Illogical, ACTION
Grandpa grew mad, at this point.
- Grandpa is – Logical, LINKING
The mother grows tomatoes in her garden.
- Mother is tomatoes in her garden. – Illogical, ACTION
Additionally, there are two types of subject complements. They are known as predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives.
Predicate Nominative
Now, a predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that appears with a linking verb. They identify, explain, or rename the subject of the sentence. In a sentence, linking verbs act as an equal sign between the subject and predicate nominative. In short, they refer to the same thing.
Take note of the following examples:
Majority of the audience are students.
- ‘Students’ renames ‘audience’
Miss Garcia is the new Math teacher.
- ‘Math teacher’ renames ‘Miss Garcia’
The first choice was always you.
- ‘You’ identifies ‘choice’
Wrestling was considered a survival skill, around 5,000 years ago.
- ‘Skill’ renames ‘wrestling
‘Yoga is performed for rest and recreation.’ In this sentence, ‘rest and recreation‘ explains what ‘yoga‘ is.A compound predicate nominative is two or more nouns or pronouns that appear with a linking verb. They also identify, explain, or rename the subject of the sentence.
Take a look at the following examples:
The leaders are Sam and Dean.
- ‘Sam and Dean’ identifies ‘leaders’
Yoga is performed for rest and recreation.
- ‘Rest and recreation’ explains ‘yoga’
Jack was a mentor and a friend.
- ‘Mentor and friend’ identifies ‘Jack’
Predicate Adjective
The next type of subject complement is the predicate adjective. Generally, predicate adjectives are adjectives that appear with a linking verb. They also describe the subjects of the sentence.
Look at the following examples:
As a matter of fact, the place smells horrible.
- ‘Horrible’ describes ‘place’
Lions are ferocious creatures.
- ‘Ferocious’ describes ‘lions’
Lucas seemed tired after that short run.
- ‘Tired’ describes ‘Lucas’
Nevertheless, swimming is good for strengthening the lungs.
- ‘Good’ describes ‘swimming’
Scuba diving seems challenging at this time.
- ‘Challenging’ describes ‘scuba’
A compound predicate adjective is two or more adjectives that appear with a linking verb. They also describe the subject of the sentence.
Check out the following examples:
To point out, Bob the Drag Queen sounds funny and smart.
- ‘Funny and smart’ describes ‘bob the Drag Queen’
The flowers are red and yellow.
- ‘Red and yellow’ describes ‘flowers’
Idol systems are popular and notorious.
- ‘Popular and notorious’ describes ‘idol systems’
Rodriguez is a tired and jaded former rock star.
- ‘Tired and jaded’ describes ‘Rodriguez’
The game of chess is exciting and stimulating to begin with.
- ‘Exciting and stimulating’ describes ‘chess’
THE OBJECTIVE COMPLEMENTS
An objective complement is an adjective or a noun that appears and describes a direct object. Generally, indirect objects will come before direct objects. An objective complement will usually come after direct objects. Then, objective complements also give additional information about direct objects,too.
In order to find the objective complement, find the verb and direct object first. Then, ask the question ‘What?’
Take a look at the following examples:
Alice painted the roses red, shortly.
- Painted roses What? = red
Meanwhile, Sue appointed Quinn captain of the cheerleading squad.
- Appointed Quinn What? = captain
At this point, the marathon made her weak.
- Made her What? = weak
Soon, they named Brian hall monitor.
- Named Brian What? = hall monitor
As can be seen, determining the subjective and objective complements may seem difficult. But as you continue your journey in learning the language, determining the subjective and objective complements will become easier, too.
So, what did you think about this lesson? Please share it with us in the comments, accordingly.
You might also be interested with our one of our blogs: Common Nouns and Proper Nouns Explained!
Think you’ve understood the lesson well enough? Try to answer the short quiz, to find out how well you understood.
TRUE or FALSE: A subject complement completes the meaning of a sentence by adding meaning to transitive verbs.
Subject complements completes the meaning of a sentence by adding meaning to linking verbs – verbs that connect words at or near the end of a sentence to another word at or near the beginning.
“The swimmer was fast.” In this sentence, the word ________ is the predicate adjective.
In the sentence, the word ‘fast’ is the predicate adjective because it describes the subject ‘swimmer’, and it accompanies the linking verb ‘was.’
“The race made Cynthia tired.” Which is the objective complement?
In the sentence, the word ‘tired’ is the objective complement because it comes after the direct object ‘Cynthia.’
TRUE or FALSE: The objective complements tell something about the subject of a sentence.
Subject complements are nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that tell something about the subject of a sentence. They are often found after the linking verb that they accompany.
Which of the following sentences contain a compound predicate adjective?
The first sentence contains a predicate adjective, because ‘graceful and refined’ are adjectives. The second sentence does not contain predicate adjectives; however, it contains a compound subject (Jack and Judy).
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