Complements

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Complements

• No, not the kind where you say something nice
  about someone else.

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A complement is a word or a word group that
completes the meaning of a verb.
Incomplete Marlene brought. (what?)
Complete Marlene brought sandwiches.
Incomplete Carlos thanked. (whom?)
Complete Carlos thanked her.
Incomplete We were. (what?)
Complete We were hungry.
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Remember
A complement can be a noun, a pronoun, or an
adjective. A complement answers the
following questions WHAT? WHO? WHOM?
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There are 4 types of Complements
Direct Object Indirect Object
follow action verbs
Action verbs are verbs like run, think, walk,
dream, see, play, have, has
Predicate Nominative Predicate Adjective
follow linking verbs
Linking verbs include am, is, are, was, were,
seems, appears, becomes, grows, feels
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Action Verb vs. Linking Verb
Some verbs can be both action verbs and linking
verbs
taste, sound, appear, grow, feel, remain, stay,
look
How can you tell the difference?
Substitute a to be verb (am, is, are, was,
were) for the original verb. If the sentences
meaning remains the same, then the original verb
is a linking verb. If the meaning changes, then
the original verb is an action verb.
Betty tasted the pudding. The pudding tasted
sweet.
Betty WAS the pudding. The pudding WAS sweet.
The second sentence contains the linking verb.
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Remember
An adverb is never a complement. The dog is
outside. The dog is friendly. A complement is
never part of a prepositional phrase. Ben is
studying for his geography test. Ben is studying
his geography notes.
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Nominative Case Pronouns - used as subjects and
predicate nominatives
Singular Plural
First Person I we
Second Person you you
Third Person he, she, it they
BTW...
This case is also sometimes called the noun case.
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Objective Case Pronouns - used as direct objects,
indirect objects, objects of preposition
Singular Plural
First Person me us
Second Person you you
Third Person him, her, it them
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Possessive Case Pronouns - used to show
possession
Singular Plural
First Person mine ours
Second Person yours yours
Third Person his, hers, its theirs
The words my, our, your, her, their are sometimes
called pronouns, but they are actually possessive
adjectives
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If you have difficulty identifying complements -
1. Cross out the prepositional phrases. 2. Locate
the verb. 3. Find the subject. 4. Find the
complement that receives the action or identifies
the subject.
Now go and use your knowledge for good! May the
schwartz be with you!