Are the following groups of words sentences? Birds fly. Toni bought. Our mechanic is. Richard feels.

Birds fly can stand by itself as a sentence, but the others begun by a subject and its verb and must be completed with other words. These words are called complements.

Definition of a complement: A complement is a word or a group of words that completes the meaning of a subject and a verb.

Complements Complements are usually nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. They can be found right after or very close to the verb in the sentence.

Can you find the complements within the following sentences? Toni bought cars. The eyewitness told us the story. Our mechanic is a poet. Richard feels sad.

Types of Complements Direct Objects Indirect Objects Subject Complements

Direct Objects Direct objects are complements that are used after action verbs. Definition: A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb. A direct object can be found by asking Whom? Or What? After an action verb. Example: The message reached the lawyer.  Question you ask yourself: Reached whom?  Answer: Lawyer.

Direct Objects like subjects and verbs can be compound. Example: Mother invited Uncle Bill and Aunt Clara. Question you ask yourself: Invited whom? Answer: Unce Bill, Aunt, Clara

Just like in statements, questions word order is inverted. Therefore, the position of a direct object in a sentence may change. In question, sometimes the direct object is near the beginning of the sentence, before the verb.

Inverted Word Order for Questions Normal Word Order:  You did ask who for help.  He does want what from us.  He does want which car from the dealership. Questions  Whom did you ask for help?  What does he want from us?  Which car does he want from the dealership?

HINT! *In essence, if you are having trouble finding the direct object in a question rephrase the sentence in normal word order, as shown in the previous examples.

Indirect Objects If there is a direct object within a sentence, there may also be another type of complement called an indirect object. Definition: An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that comes after an action verb and before a direct object. It names the person or thing to which something is given or for which something is done. An indirect object answer the question To whom or for whom? Or To what or for what? after an action verb. (You must find the direct object first, then ask the question.)

For Example: I told them the story. Question you ask: Told to whom? Answer: them.

Pattern Subject ----Verb----Indirect Object----Direct Object

Like a subject, verb, or direct object, and indirect object can be compound. Example: Dave gave each car and truck a new color. Question to ask yourself: to what? Answer: car, truck.

Subject Complements Linking verbs have a different type of complement than action verbs (direct and indirect objects) which is called a subject complement. Definition: A subject complement is a noun, a pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb and tells something about the subject.

Three Types of Subject Complements Subject Complements Predicate Noun- Follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. Predicate Pronoun- Follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. Predicate Adjective- Follows a linking verb And describes the subject of the sentence.

Examples: Example of Predicate Noun-  Ronnie will be captain of our team. Example of Predicate Pronoun-  The two winners are they. Example of Predicate Adjective-  The flight to Houston was swift.

A Compound subject complement consists of two or more predicate nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. Example: My two best friends are Phil and Mark.