words that make a sentence more meaningful Chapter 5 C O M P L E ME N T S words that make a sentence more meaningful

COMPLEMENT A word or word group that COMPLETES the meaning of a VERB The COMPLEMENT answers a specific question and gives more information STRATEGY Find the verb Ask : verb ….WHAT? The answer is a complement (noun or pronoun)

that word is called the object of the preposition BE CAREFUL A complement is never part of a prepositional phrase that word is called the object of the preposition An adverb is never a complement because an adverb answers where, when, why, how (not ‘what’)

wallet completes the meaning of the verb found Examples My aunt found a wallet. Verb = found found WHAT? wallet wallet completes the meaning of the verb found

Adverbs are NOT complements The koala chews slowly. Find the verb= chews Chews WHAT? NO ANSWER Chews “how”- slowly = adverb

NOT in a prepositional phrases Hannah is riding to her friend’s house. Verb= is riding Is riding WHAT? NO ANSWER Is riding- where?= to her friends house house is the object of the preposition ‘house’

DIRECT OBJECTS Complete the meaning of a TRANSITIVE VERB Remember the action passes directly Tells who or what received the action DIRECT OBJECTS answer the questions: WHOM or WHAT after the verb

EXAMPLES My brother bought a model. Verb= bought Bought WHAT ?= model Model is the direct object receiving the action from bought Corey studied Mother Teresa in history class. Verb= studied Studied WHOM?= Mother Teresa Mother Teresa is the direct object receiving the action from studied

Compound Direct Objects A sentence can have more than one direct object She needed glue, paint , and decals for her model. Verb=needed Needed WHAT? glue, paint, decals DIRECT OBJECTS cannot follow LINKING VERBS linking verbs do not show action

INDIRECT OBJECTS A complement that completes the meaning of a TRANSITIVE VERB Works with a direct object Indirect objects cannot be in the sentence alone ANSWERS the questions To WHOM? For WHOM? To WHAT? For WHAT? the action of the verb is done

EXAMPLES Verb= bought Bought what?=peanuts Dad bought himself some peanuts. Verb= bought Bought what?=peanuts Bought peanuts FOR WHOM?= himself himself= indirect object of the verb bought Luke sent David a letter. Verb= sent sent what?=letter Sent letter TO WHOM? = David David = indirect object of the verb sent

MORE EXAMPLES I gave that problem some thought. Verb= gave gave what?=thought Gave thought TO WHAT? = problem Problem = indirect object of the verb gave Mary baked the school a lot of cookies. Verb= baked baked what?=cookies Baked cookies FOR WHAT? = school school = indirect object of the verb baked

COMPOUND INDIRECT OBJECTS If the word “FOR” is used, the noun or pronoun that follows is in a prepositional phrase , there is NO DIRECT OBJECT The ship’s captain gave orders to the crew. (prep phrase) And no indirect object exists Indirect objects can be compound Lucy gave Linus and Snoopy a treat. Gave what? Treat Gave treat to WHOM? Linus and Snoopy (compound indirect object)

SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS A word or word group IN THE PREDICATE (part of the verb) that identifies or describes the subject. Connected by a linking verb Not action verbs TWO KINDS of subject complements Predicate Nominative Predicate Adjective

PREDICATE NOMINATIVE A word or word group in the predicate that IDENTIFIES or REFERS to the subject. May be a noun, pronoun, or a word that functions as a noun Connect by a linking verb EXAMPLE Seaweed is algae. Linking verb = is Algae refers to seaweed Algae is the predicate nominative (it renames or identifies seaweed)

BE CAREFUL Do not mistake a direct object for a predicate nominative. Direct objects need action verbs My brother admired the acrobat. Predicate nominatives are connected by a linking verb My brother became an acrobat.

PREDICATE NOMINATIVES Can be compound Is the shark a fish or a mammal? Linking verb = is “fish, mammal” are predicate nominatives rename shark

PREDICATE ADJECTIVE A word or word group in the predicate that DESCRIBES the subject. Connected to the subject by a linking verb EXAMPLES I was very tired. Linking verb = was ‘tired’ describes the subject I The blanket felt soft and fuzzy. Linking verb = felt ‘soft, fuzzy’ describes the subject blanket (compound)