Complements– who needs them? “You look nice today.” No!!! Not that type of compliment!!! Complement with an e. It’s a grammar term.

What is a Complement? A complement is a word or word group that completes the meaning of a verb. There are four main types of complements: 1. Direct Objects 2. Indirect Objects 3. Predicate Nominatives 4. Predicate Adjectives

The Direct Object

Direct Object A noun or a pronoun. Follows an action verb. Receives the action of a verb. A direct object can be found by asking Whom? or What? about an action verb.

Mrs. Bender read the book. A direct object can be found by asking Whom? or What? about an action verb. subject DO AV Mrs. Bender read the book. Mrs. Bender read WHAT?

The mom is raising the children. A direct object can be found by asking Whom? or What? about an action verb. subject D O AV The mom is raising the children. Is raising WHOM?

Marty and Carol served WHAT? A direct object can be found by asking Whom? or What? about an action verb. action verb DO subject Marty and Carol served pie and ice cream for dessert. DO Marty and Carol served WHAT?

A direct object is never an adverb or the object of a preposition. D.O. Joanne walked her dog. adverb Joanne walked briskly. Prepositional phrase Joanne walked to the store.

The Indirect Object

Andy brought me a flower. Indirect Object A noun or a pronoun. Tells to whom or to what or for whom or for what the action of the verb is done. subj. action verb direct obj. Andy brought a flower. subj. action verb indirect obj direct obj. Andy brought me a flower.

Sarah showed the class her new glasses. Indirect Object A noun or a pronoun. Tells to whom or to what or for whom or for what the action of the verb is done. subject action verb indirect object direct object Sarah showed the class her new glasses. Sarah showed her new glasses to whom? Jeff gave Caroline a chess set. Jeff gave a chess set to whom?

If there is an indirect object, there must be a direct object. Please Note… If there is an indirect object, there must be a direct object. However, you can have a direct object without an indirect object.

Linking verb: Zachary was a silly boy. **ONLY ACTION VERBS HAVE INDIRECT OBJECTS and DIRECT OBJECTS** Linking verbs do NOT have indirect objects or direct objects Linking verb: Zachary was a silly boy. Action verb: Zachary saw a silly boy. d. o.

An action verb with NO direct object or a linking verb Transitive Verb An action verb with a Direct Object Intransitive Verb An action verb with NO direct object or a linking verb (linking verbs are ALWAYS intransitive verbs)