Complements
Types of complements Subject Object Verb
Subject complements Define or describe the subject – Predicate nouns/nominative – Predicate adjectives – Adverbial Where? Appear after a linking verb – To be, look, sound, smell, feel, taste, appear, grow, remain
Subject complement: Predicate adjective The milk tastes sour. Your flowers smell sweet. Rita’s forehead feels hot. Pat looked surprise after her loss.
Subject complement: Predicate nouns These women are champions. The sale was a failure. Marcy is becoming the queen. Our four brothers remained friends.
Adverbial complement The wedding will be in the afternoon. Thomas is outside. Her test was yesterday. My dog must have been on the balcony.
Object complements Appear after a direct object Describe, define, or refer to the direct object Answer the question “what?” Can be a noun, adjective, or word acting as a noun or adjective Not set off by commas
Object complements The students elected Sam vice president. Vanilla ice cream will make your mouth very cold. My mother is giving these books to my sister Michele. Mr. Toole found the Bluesfield Choir the winners.
Verb complements Direct and/or indirect objects of the verb Can be nouns, pronouns, words acting as nouns
Verb complements Grandma gave Sarah her diamond ring. The English language has taught us many lessons. Theo brought Raymond all his marbles.