Download Subject complements

COMPLEMENTS
A complement is a word or a group of words
that completes the meaning of a verb. Two
kinds of complements are:
Subject complements and objects of verbs.
A subject complement is a word or group of
words that follows a linking verb and
renames or describes the subject.
(A linking verb links the subject with a noun or
an adjective that tells more about it.
Common linking Verbs
Forms of be: am, is, are ,was, were, be,
been
Other linking
Verbs:
appear, become, feel, look,
sound, seem, taste.
Example: Butterflies are fragile.
subject
lv
Complement
Predicate Nouns (nominatives)
and Predicate Adjectives
• Both nouns and adjectives can serve as
subject complements.
• A predicate noun follows a linking verb and
defines or renames the subject.
Example:
Monarch butterflies are insects.
In this sentence butterflies is the subject
are is the linking verb insects is the predicate
noun. (the word insect defines the subject
butterflies)
Predicate noun (nominative)
continued
• Example: Cocoons become butterfly
nurseries.
• In this sentence
• cocoons is the subject
become is the linking verb
nurseries is the predicate noun and it
renames the subject.
Predicate adjective
• A predicate adjective follows a linking
verb and describes a quality of the
subject.
• Example: Monarchs look beautiful.
Subject
lv predicate adj.
Beautiful describes the subject monarch.
So lets practice a little.
Practice makes perfect!
Identify the underlined word as PA or PN
• Migration routes are highways in the
sky for birds.
• The migration of songbirds is difficult
to track.
• The birds are too little to carry radio
transmitters.
• Identification bands can be useful in
tracking migration.
More practice
• The bands often become loose, however.
• Fortunately, the isotope deuterium hs been
helpful.
• Deuterium is a form of hydrogen found in
rainwater.
• Deuterium becomes part of plants, insects,
and birds.
• Deuterium levels become higher as you go
farther south.
• Now scientists feel hopeful about tracking
migrations.