Adapted from Grammar for Writing, “Complements”



Parts of a Sentence: Complements

Adapted from Grammar for Writing, “Complements”

Complements – words or word groups that follow the verb and complete its meaning. There are four types of complements: direct objects, objective complements, indirect objects, and subject complements.

Direct Objects – a noun or pronoun that tells who or what receives the action of a verb. (verb what? or verb who?)

Winnie loves bacon.

Verb = loves

Subject = Winnie

Winnie loves what?

Bacon

Direct Object = bacon

Indirect Objects – nouns or pronouns that tell to or for whom or what the action of the verb is done? (to what? to whom?)

Lola gave Winnie a cookie.

Verb = gave

Subject = Lola

Lola gave what?

Cookie

Direct Object = cookie

To whom or what did she give the cookie?

Winnie

Indirect Object = Winnie

AN INDIRECT OBJECT CAN NEVER FOLLOW A PREPOSITION

(OF, WITH, TO, FOR, BY, AT, ON, IN, AROUND, ETC.)

Lola gave the cookie to Winnie.

Verb = gave

Subject = Lola

Direct Object = cookie

Indirect Object = NONE

Objective Complements – a noun or adjective that follow the direct object and identifies or describes it. Only certain verbs and their synonyms can be followed by objective complements. Verbs that signal objective complements: appoint, choose, elect, keep, name, call, consider, find, make, think.

I consider Winnie beautiful.

Verb = consider

Subject = I

Who do I consider?

Winnie

Direct Object = Winnie

Who or what does beautiful describe, the subject or the object?

Object (Winnie)

Objective Compliment = beautiful

Subject Complements - follows a linking verb and identifies or describes the subject. (linking verbs: be, is, are, was, were, am, feel, seem, consider, smell, sound, taste)

There are two types of subject complements: predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives.

Predicate Nominative – a noun used as a subject complement

Winnie is a pug.

Verb = is

Subject = Winnie

Predicate Nominative = pug

(a noun giving more information about the subject (Winnie))

Predicate Adjective – an adjective used as a subject complement.

The pug is playful.

Verb = is

Subject = pug

Predicate Adjective = playful

(an adjective describing the subject (pug))

Steps for identifying the parts of a sentence:

1. What is the verb (action or linking verb)?

2. What is the subject (who or what is performing the action)?

3. What is the direct object (who or what is receiving the action)?

4. What is the indirect object (to/for whom/what is the action being performed)?

5. Is there more information about the object? This noun or adjective is the objective complement.

6. Is there a linking verb? Is it followed by a noun? This is the predicate nominative? Is it followed by an adjective? This is the predicate adjective.

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