1. Complements
Objects, Subject Complements

2. Recognizing Complements
A complement may be a noun, pronoun, or an adjective.
Recognizing Complements
The sisters are writers. (N)
The story is exciting.
(adj.)
a word or a word group that completes the meaning of a verb
ex.- Marlene brought (what?) incomplete
ex. Marlene brought sandwiches. complete
My mom bought me a card. (PN,N)

3. Complements The dog is outside. (adv.)
The dog is friendly. (adj. complement)
an adverb is NEVER a complement
a complement is NEVER part of a prepositional phrase
Ben is studying for his test. (test is the object of the prep. for)
Ben is studying his notes. (notes is the complement)

4. Steps for finding the complement
1. Delete prep. phrases
2. Locate the verb.
3. Find the subject.
4. Find the complement that receives the action or identifies the subject.

5. Juanita wrote the short letter on a sheet of plain notebook paper.
cross out prep
phrases
find the subject
locate verb
find the complement

6. Direct Objects Our History class built a model of the Alamo.
(What was built? model-DO)
noun, pronoun, or word group that tells who or what receives the action
A DIRECT OBJECT ANSWERS THE QUESTION WHOM OR WHAT AFTER THE TRANSITIVE VERB.

7. She planted tulips and daisies.
Direct Objects
Obama is our president.
He walked for hours.
a direct object can NEVER complete the meaning of a linking verb because linking verbs DO NOT express action
a direct obj. is NEVER part of a prepositional phrase
a direct obj. may be compound
She planted tulips and daisies.

8. Indirect Objects Tells: to/for whom Examples to/for what
noun, pronoun, or word group that sometimes appears in sentences containing direct objects
Luke showed the CLASS his collection. (noun)
Sarah brought US pizza. (pronoun)
Dad gave WHATEVER WAS LEFT OVER his attention. (word group)
to/for whom
Examples
to/for what

9. INDIRECT OBJECTS ARE NEVER IN A PREP. PHRASE!
whom?
to what?
what?
to whom?
for whom?
for what?
Linking Verbs do not have indirect obj.!
An indirect obj. may be compound.
ex. Sue sent JOE and LISA a note.

10. Subject Complements Mr. Carnes is a good TEACHER!
word or word group that completes the meaning of the LINKING VERB and that identifies or describes the subject
predicate nominative and predicate adjective
The candy tastes SOUR.
The book is WHAT SHE WANTED.

11. Predicate Nominatives
Mr. Stanford became MAYOR
of the city.
Word or word group that is in the predicate and that identifies the subject or refers to it
Noun
Pronoun
word group
do not appear in prep. phrases
may be compound
My niece is SHE.
The winner is WHOEVER GETS THE MOST. VOTES?.

12. Stay still. (Imperative)
To find the subject complement in an interrogative sentence, rearrange the sentence to make a statement.
Was the dog muddy?
The dog was muddy.
Stay still. (Imperative)
You stay STILL.

13. A computer may be FUN, HELPFUL, and FRUSTRATING.
Predicate Adjective
in predicate and describes subject
completes meaning of linking verb
may be compound
A computer may be FUN, HELPFUL, and FRUSTRATING.