Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements COMPLEMENTS

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Complements A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning begun by the subject and verb

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Complements Example –Snow blanketed the sidewalk. Snow (subject) Blanketed (verb) Sidewalk (complement) If we just had the subject and the verb (snow blanketed), the sentence would be incomplete. The complement tells us what was blanketed by the snow.

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Complements Like the subject of a sentence, a complement is never part of a prepositional phrase.

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Complements Example –He ate one of the sandwiches. The complement is one, not sandwiches ; sandwiches is part of the prepositional phrase

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Complements An adverb modifying a verb is not a complement. Complements may be nouns, pronouns, or adjectives.

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Complements Example –She plays hard. Hard is an adverb, modifying how she plays and is therefore not a complement. –The baseball is hard. Hard, here an adjective, is a complement.

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements The Subject Complement A subject complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb. It identifies, describes, or explains the subject.

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements The Subject Complement Examples –Jim is a good student. Student identifies the subject, Jim. –Lisa is humble. Humble identifies the subject, Lisa

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Types of Subject Complements Predicate Nominative –If the subject complement is a noun or pronoun, it is a predicate nominative Predicate Adjective –If the subject complement is an adjective, it is called a predicate adjective

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Types of Subject Complements Examples –Jim is a good student. student is a noun and therefore a predicate nominative –Lisa is humble. humble is an adjective and therefore a predicate adjective

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Distinguishing Between Subject and Complement When the sentence is not composed in the traditional order (Subject + Verb+ Complement), it may be difficult to tell the subject from the complement

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Distinguishing Between Subject and Complement Verb + Subject + Complement –Was he the donor of the organs? Was—Verb He—Subject Donor—Complement Usually, the subject comes before the complement.

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Distinguishing Between Subject and Complement Complement Coming First –How strange is life! Strange—Complement Is—Verb Life—Subject

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Distinguishing Between Subject and Complement Helpful Hint –Consider which word is more likely to be the subject of the sentence –Use common sense!

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Assignment Please rewrite the following sentences. For each sentence, underline the simple subject one time; underline the simple predicate two times; and circle the subject complement. Finally, identify the subject complement as predicate nominate (PN) or predicate adjective (PA).

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Assignment 1.Are those girls your cousins? 2.How friendly everyone seems! 3.Ginger is a superb athlete. 4.The Canterbury Tales is a great poem. 5.How bright the stars seem tonight.

Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements Assignment 6. What a fine cook your mother is! 7. When does a house become a home? 8. Our dog is usually friendly. 9. Mr. Thomas was a teacher of extraordinary dedication. 10. Borat is a great movie.