Complements English III

What are the two basic building blocks of a sentence? Subject Nouns What are the two basic building blocks of a sentence? Predicate Verb Harry swims.

Keeping that in mind, are these complete sentences? Harry always sends Harry always sends short texts. The dog always eats. I think Shayla.

What is a complement? A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of the predicate of a sentence. Predicate: the part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject Josh went to the store.

Types of complements Direct objects Indirect objects Object complements Predicate nominatives Predicate adjectives The first three types occur in sentences that have transitive verbs Transitive verbs: An action verb that has a direct object. Josh kicked Juan under the table. The last two types are also called subject complements. Found only with linking verbs.

Direct Objects These are the most common type out of the five complements. Direct objects: noun, pronoun, or group of words acting as a noun that receives the action of a transitive verb. I visited the Statue of Liberty. I visited what? The Statue of Liberty The storm caused mass damage. The storm caused what? Damage If you are unsure if the verb is transitive or intransitive, put the verb into a question using “What” or “whom”. The toy spun around the room. The toy spun what? No answer: intransitive

Direct Objects In inverted questions, direct objects can appear before the verb. Rearrange the inverted question in subject-verb order to find the direct object easier. What shows did they watch? They watch what shows? They watched what? Shows Compound direct objects: more than one direct object. You can still ask “whom” or “what”, but you will have more than one answer. The musicians played trumpets and percussion. The musicians played what? Trumpets and percussion.

Indirect Objects Indirect objects only in sentences that contain transitive verbs and direct objects. Like direct object, you can have a compound indirect object. Ask the questions: to or for whom? Or to or for what? You will typically see indirect objects with the verbs: ask, bring, buy, give, lend, make, show, teach, tell, and write. Examples: The teacher gave the student the final paper. Direct Object: Gave student what? Paper Indirect Object: The teacher gave the paper to whom? The student They bought their new dog a toy. Direct object: Bought what? Toy Indirect object: Bought a toy for what? Dog

Indirect Object Indirect objects almost always appear between the verb and the direct object. With correct subject-verb order, the indirect object never follows the direct object. It will, also, never be the object of the prepositions to or for. Isaac mailed the book to me. Direct Object: Mailed what? Book Mail the book who? TO me. This is not the I.O. but the object of preposition. To who? To me. Isaac mailed me the book Indirect Object: Mailed who? Me Isaac mailed me a book to read. Indirect Object: Mailed who? Me. Object of Prep: to what? Read.

Object Complement An object complement almost always follows a direct object, unlike indirect objects. An object complement is an adjective or noun that appears with a direct object and describes or renames it. Object complements occur with verbs such as: appoint, call, consider, declare, elect, judge, label, make, name, select, and think. The words “to be” can often be put in front of the object complement. The teacher appointed him leader. Direct Object: Appointed who? Him Remember: Indirect Object has to have a direct object. C.O.: appointed him to be leader.

Object Complement Continued examples The organizers of prom declared it successful in the end. Direct Objects: Declared what? It Object Complement: declared it to be successful I consider Bonnie a loyal friend and a great writer. Direct object: Consider who? Bonnie Object complement: Bonnie to be a loyal friend Object complement: Bonnie to be a great writer.

Subject Complements Subject complements must have a linking verb. A subject complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that appears with a linking verb and gives more information about the subject. Predicate nominative Predicate adjective

Predicate Nominative Predicate Nominative refers to the same person, place, or thing as the subject of the sentence They may be a noun or pronoun that appears with a linking verb (mostly forms of be) and renames, identifies, or explains the subject. You can have a compound predicate nominative. She is a musician in the local band. Linking verb: is Predicate Nominative: musician Frankie was a border collie mix. Linking verb: was Predicate Nominative: border collie mix List of linking verbs on page 307-308.

Predicate Adjectives A predicate adjective is an adjective that appears with a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence. Some sentences may contain a compound predicate adjective. Your reasoning seems fair Linking verb: seems Predicate adjective: fair The linebacker was fast Linking verb: was Predicate adjective: fast The plants grow fast and large Linking verb: grow Predicate adjectives: fast and large