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Complement Notes
Introduction to Complements
• Sometimes just a subject and a verb by
themselves will express a complete
thought.
• Examples: Rain fell. Birds sang.
• Often, however, a subject and verb
alone will not express a complete
thought.
• Examples: Tracy wrapped…
• That is…
• He seems…
• The previous examples need other words
to complete the thoughts begun by the
subjects and verbs. These other words
are called complements.
• A complement is a word or group of words
that completes the meaning of a subject
and verb.
• Complements usually appear right after
the verb or very close to it. Most
complements are nouns, pronouns, or
adjectives.
Direct Objects
• A direct object is a noun or pronoun that
receives the action of a verb.
• A direct object follows an action verb.
• You can find the direct object by asking
what? or whom? after the action verb.
• Formula for finding DO: subject + verb +
what? or whom? = direct object
• Examples: My older brother grew a beard.
• The mayor rewarded the detective.
• Direct objects can also be compound.
• Examples: At the fair I bought a book and
a scarf.
• The principal chose Thomas, Kayla, and
Sarah.
• What is the direct object in the following
sentences?
• Today, I met Dr. Mason.
• That shop makes small parts for jet
engines.
• A direct object is never an adverb or
the noun or pronoun at the end of a
prepositional phrase. These can also
follow an action verb, so look carefully
at the word to determine what it is
doing in the sentence.
• Examples: Tim left the room.
• Tim left happily.
• Tim left in the morning.
• Many sentences will have a number of
different words after the verb.
• Notice how it is possible to combine the
three sentences just discussed in this
pattern.
Subject + action verb + direct object +
adverb + prepositional phrase
• Tim left the room happily in the
morning.
• A direct object in a question will
sometimes be found near the beginning of
the sentence, before the verb.
• If you find it hard to locate the direct
object in a question, put the sentence in
normal word order.
• Examples:
Inverted Order
Normal order
What has she taken from you?
Which shirt do you like?
She has taken what from you
You do like which shirt
Indirect Objects
• An indirect object is only found in a
sentence that has a direct object.
• An indirect object is a noun or pronoun
that follows an action verb and comes
before a direct object.
• It names a person or thing that something
is given to or done for.
• Always look for the direct object first in a
sentence. Then look for the indirect
object before it.
• An indirect object answers the
questions to or for whom? or to or for
what?
Examples: Lucy told him the news.
I gave each paper a number.
• Most sentences with indirect objects
will follow the pattern:
• Subject + action verb + indirect object
+ direct object
• Example: Mrs. Lewis baked her family a
cake.
• An indirect object will almost always come
between the verb and the direct object.
Like direct objects, indirect objects can
be compound.
• Example: He gave Robin and Emily their
assignments.
• Do not confuse the indirect object with
object of the preposition.
• Examples: Bill gave them a map.
• Bill gave a map to them.
• Be sure to remember that direct objects
and indirect objects follow action verbs!
Subject Complements
• Subject complements complete the
meaning of a linking verb or describe
the subject.
• Nouns and pronouns used as subject
complements are called predicate nouns
and predicate pronouns.
• Adjectives used as subject complements
are called predicate adjectives.
• Subject complements cannot be found in
a prepositional phrase.
Predicate Nominatives
• Predicate nouns or pronouns are called
predicate nominatives.
• A predicate noun or pronoun is a noun
or pronoun that follows a linking verb
and explains or identifies the subject of
the sentence.
• Examples: Barbara is a talented artist.
• The capitol of Alabama is Montgomery.
• The leader will be John.
Predicate Adjectives
• A linking verb may also be followed by a
predicate adjective.
• A predicate adjective is an adjective
that follows a linking verb and describes
the subject of the sentence.
• Examples: Her story seems strange to
us.
• Clipper ships were graceful.
• Subject complements can also be
compound.
• That is, a linking verb may be followed
by two or more predicate nouns,
pronouns, or adjectives.
• Examples: The living room looks warm
and cozy.
• The two musicians were Kevin and he.