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Sentence Analysis
Lesson Notes –
Step 4:
Complements
COMPLEMENTS
Words that complete the
thoughts of a sentence are
called COMPLEMENTS.
There are two kinds of
complements, those that
follow ACTION VERBS and
those that follow LINKING
VERBS.
Complements that follow an
action verb include:
a DIRECT OBJECT
an INDIRECT OBJECT
and an OBJECTIVE
COMPLEMENT.
Complements that follow a
linking verb include:
PREDICATE NOMINATIVES
(NOUNS)
and PREDICATE
ADJECTIVES.
STEP 4A
DIRECT OBJECTS
STEP 4A: Direct Objects
A direct object (DO) is a noun
or pronoun that completes the
meaning of the sentence.
It is a word that names the
receiver of the action of an
action verb.
STEP 4A: Direct Objects
So, if a sentence has an
ACTION VERB, look for a
DIRECT OBJECT.
To find the direct object:
Say the subject, say the
verb, say “what?” or
“whom?”
The word that is the answer
is the direct object.
Example 1:
Ted hit the ball.
Say “Ted hit what?”
“ball” answers the
question. The word “ball”
is the DIRECT OBJECT.
Example 2:
John will take Mary to the dance.
Ask “John will take whom?”
“Mary” answers the
question.
The word “Mary” is the
DIRECT OBJECT.
Sometimes the direct object
is compound, which means
that there are two or more
direct objects joined by a
conjunction.
Example:
I like cake and ice cream.
Ask “I like what?”
“cake” and “cream” both
answer the question.
Both are the direct objects.
Labeling Direct Objects:
Draw a box around the direct
object and label it “DO”
Example:
You may eat the pizza.
Ask “you may eat what?”
“pizza” answers the
question.
DO
You may eat the pizza.
STEP 4B
INDIRECT OBJECTS
Step 4B: Indirect Object
An Indirect Object (IO) is a
noun or pronoun that
comes before the direct
object.
An Indirect Object answers
the question “to whom or
what?” or “for whom or
what?”
The words of the sentence
are usually in this order:
Subject, verb, IO, DO.
NOTE: A sentence cannot
have an indirect object
unless there is a direct
object!
To find the indirect object:
say the subject
 say the verb
 say the direct object
 and ask “to whom or what?”
or “for whom or what?”

Example 1:
1. The book club sent its
members cards.
Verb: “sent”
Subject: “club”
DO: “cards”
Club sent cards to whom or what?
“members” is the IO.
Example 2:
2. The Romans gave each bridge
several arches.
Verb: “gave”
Subject: “Romans”
DO: “arches
Romans gave arches to whom or what?
“bridge” is the IO.
Indirect objects can be
compound.
(That means there are two
IO’s with a conjunction.)
Example:
I gave Maria and Pablo a ride
to school.
Verb: “gave”
Subject: “I”
DO: “ride”
I gave a ride to whom?
“Maria” and “Pablo” are the IO’s
Labeling Indirect Objects:
Once you identify an indirect
object draw a box around it and
label it IO.
Now, let’s practice until
we learn Steps 4A and
4B!
Step 4C
Objective
Complements
(OC)
Objective Complement:
An objective complement
is a word that follows a
direct object.
An objective complement
renames or describes the
direct object.
An Objective Complement
Noun (OCN) renames the
direct object.
An Objective Complement
Adjective (OCA) describes
the direct object.
The words of the sentence
are usually in this order:
subject, verb, direct object,
objective complement
Example of OCN:
We consider her a good
player.
“player” follows the DO “her”
and renames it, so “player” is
an objective complement noun.
Example of OCA:
Many call him unbeatable.
“unbeatable” follows the DO
and describes it, so
“unbeatable” is an objective
complement adjective.
Compound objective
complements:
Objective complements can be
compound.
(That means there are two or
more complements joined by
a conjunction.)
Example of compound OCs:
Some think him
arrogant and rude.
Both “arrogant” and “rude”
follow the DO and describe it,
so both are OCAs.
NOTE:
An objective complement
frequently occurs in
sentences with these verbs:
appoint, call, choose,
consider, elect, find, make,
keep, name, and think.
Labeling objective
complements:
Once you have identified an
objective complement draw a box around it and
label it OCN or OCA.
Now, let’s practice until
we learn Step 4C!
STEP 4D
Subject Complements:
Predicate Nominative (PN)
& Predicate Adjective (PA)
If the verb is LINKING, then
look for a Predicate
Nominative or a Predicate
Adjective.
Predicate Nominative:
a noun or pronoun
that follows the linking
verb and renames the
subject.
Example 1:
He is my friend.
“friend” renames the subject
“He.”
“friend” is a Predicate
Nominative.
The personal pronouns that
can be Predicate
Nominatives are:
I, we, you, she, he, it, they
Example 2:
The singer was she.
“she” renames “singer.”
“she” is a Predicate
Nominative.
Simple Test for PN:
If the complement can be
switched with the subject,
and the sentence still has
the same meaning, then the
complement is a PN.
Predicate Adjective:
an adjective that follows
the linking verb and
describes the subject of
the sentence
Example 3:
That man is really handsome.
“handsome” describes the
subject “man.”
“handsome” is a Predicate
Adjective.
Simple Test for PA:
If you can move the
complement in front of the
subject, and the
complement and subject
make sense together, then
the complement is a PA.
Simple Test Example:
That man is really handsome.
Since “handsome” describes
“man” and “That handsome
man” makes sense, the word
handsome is a PA.
Compound Complements
Predicate Adjectives and
Predicate Nominatives may
be compound (two or more
PAs or PNs with a
conjunction).
Example 4:
I am happy and sad.
“happy” and “sad” are
both PAs.
Example 5:
Those people are teachers
and brilliant.
 “teachers” renames
“people” and is a PN.
 “brilliant” describes
“people” and is a PA.
A Double-Check:
To be sure whether a word is a
PA or a PN:
 Try to make the word plural.
 PAs cannot be plural.
 PNs can be plural.
Double-Check Examples:
She is pretty.
Can you say, “prettys”?
No, so “pretty” is a PA.
She is a girl.
Can you say, “girls”? Yes,
so “girl” is a PN.
Last double-check example:
It was he.
 Since “they” is the plural of
“he,” then “he” is a PN.
Labeling subject
complements (PA & PN)
Once you identify the
Predicate Adjective or
Predicate Nominative, draw
a box around it and label it
PA or PN.