Parts of a sentence Complements

Complement Complement – a word or a group of words that completes the meaning of a verb. There are four kinds of complements: direct objects indirect objects object complements subject complements.

Direct object Direct object – answers the question what? or whom? after an action verb. Example: Estella sold her computer. (Estella sold what?) Example: Tamara watched the professor. (Tamara watched whom) Example: Estella sold her computer and radio. (Estella sold what?)

Indirect object Indirect object – answers the question to whom? to What? or for what? after an action verb. A sentence can have an indirect object only if it has a direct object.

Indirect object An indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object. Example: The owner gave us a discount. (The owner gave a discount to whom?) Example: Ed bought Jeremy and Sean candy. (Ed bought candy for whom?)

Object complements Object complement – answers the question what? after a direct object. That is, it completes the meaning of the direct object by identifying or describing it.

Object complements Occur only in sentences with direct objects and only in those sentences with the following action verbs or similar verbs that have the general meaning of make or consider: Appoint Consider Make Render Call Elect Name Think Choose Find Prove Vote

Object complements An object complement usually follows a direct object. It may be an adjective, noun or a pronoun. Example: The bonus made Susan happy. (adjective) Example: I named my dog Sadie. (proper noun)

Subject complement Subject complement – follows a subject and a linking verb and identifies or describes the subject. There are two kinds of subject complements: predicate nominatives predicate adjectives.

Subject complement Predicate nominative: a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and points back to the subject to rename it or to identify it further. Cellists are musicians. The soloist for this concert is someone from Dallas.

Subject complement Predicate nominatives are usually found in sentences that contain forms of the linking verb be. A few other linking verbs as well can be followed by a predicative nominative (become and remain). Example: Alexis remains an admirer and a friend. Example: That class became a challenge for me.

Subject complement Predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and points back to the subject and further describes it. Example: My sister is generous. Example: Some doctors are compassionate.

Subject complement Predicate adjective may follow any linking verb. Example: I feel very insecure. Example: The coffee shop looked busy. Example: The man seemed smart and thoughtful. Example: Lori’s tale sounded preposterous to me.

Sentence Patterns Subject – be verb – subject complement Danny – is – generous Subject – linking verb – subject complement Danny – seems - fine Subject – intransitive verb Danny - sneezed Subject – transitive verb – direct object Danny – eats – cereal Subject – transitive verb – indirect object – direct object Danny – gave – the children - gifts Subject – transitive verb – direct object – object complement Danny – named – his dog – Sparky.

Write each complement and then identify it by writing DO, IO, OC, PN or PA. My favorite playwright is William Shakespeare. Not one person considered Claude our leader. George became the head lifeguard at the city pool. The team voted Li and Nancy co-captains. The volcano eruption was terrifying. The lull in the storm gave the tourists a false sense of security. Try the hard-boiled eggs. Julia Child demonstrated the technique for kneading bread. The young couple named their baby Vincenzo. My mediocre grades were predictable.

Write each complement and then identify it by writing DO, IO, OC, PN or PA. William Shakespeare, PN Claude, Do; leader, OC Lifeguard, PN Li, Nancy, DO; co-captains, OC Terrifying, PA Tourists, IO; sense, DO Eggs, DO Technique, DO Baby, DO; Vincenzo, OC Predictable, PA My favorite playwright is William Shakespeare. Not one person considered Claude our leader. George became the head lifeguard at the city pool. The team voted Li and Nancy co-captains. The volcano eruption was terrifying. The lull in the storm gave the tourists a false sense of security. Try the hard-boiled eggs. Julia Child demonstrated the technique for kneading bread. The young couple named their baby Vincenzo. My mediocre grades were predictable.

Linking verbs Linking verbs do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject. Look at the examples below: Keila is a shopaholic. Ising isn't something that Keila can do.  Is connects the subject, Keila, to additional information about her, that she will soon have a huge credit card bill to pay.

Linking verbs The following verbs are true linking verbs: any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc.], become, and seem. Then you have a list of verbs with multiple personalities: appear, feel, grow, look, prove,remain, smellsound, taste, and turn. Sometimes these verbs are linking verbs; sometimes they are action verbs. If you can substitute am, is, or are and the sentence still sounds logical, you have a linking verb on your hands.

Transitive verbs A transitive verb has two characteristics. First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like kick, want, paint, write, eat, clean, etc. Second, it must have a direct object, something or someone who receives the action of the verb. Here is an example of a transitive verbs: Sylvia kicked Juan under the table. Kicked = transitive verb; Juan = direct object.

Intransitive verbs An intransitive verb has two characteristics. First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like arrive, go, lie, sneeze, sit, die, etc. Second, unlike a transitive verb, it will not have a direct object receiving the action. Huffing and puffing, we arrived at the classroom door with only seven seconds to spare. Arrived = intransitive verb. James went to the campus cafe for a steaming bowl of squid eyeball stew. Went = intransitive verb.

Intransitive vs. Transitive verbs An action verb with a direct object is transitive while an action verb with no direct object is intransitive. Some verbs, such as arrive, go, lie, sneeze, sit, and die, are always intransitive; it is impossible for a direct object to follow.

Simple Subject The simple subject is the key noun or pronoun that tells whom or what the sentence is about. The members of the track team have been striving for perfection.

Complete subject The complete subject consists of the simple subject and all the words that modify it. The members of the track team have been striving for perfection.

Simple predicate The simple predicate is the verb or verb phrases that expresses the action or state of being of the subject of the sentence. The members of the track team have been striving for perfection.

Complete predicate The complete predicate consists of the simple predicate and all the words that modify it or complete its meaning. The members of the track team have been striving for perfection.