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Complements:
Direct Objects
Sometimes the meaning of a sentence is complete when the sentence contains only a subject and a
verb. Often, though, the meaning of a sentence is incomplete until other words are added.
COMPLETE:
Ellen sang.
Everyone clapped.
Ellen smiled.
INCOMPLETE:
Ellen liked
Ellen earned
Ellen bought
A word or group of words that completes the meaning of a sentence by telling more about the subject
or verb is called a complement. In the examples below, the complements are underlined.
EXAMPLES:
Ellen liked music.
Ellen earned some money.
Ellen bought a radio.
In each example above, the complement tells more about the verb of the sentence. Music tells what
Ellen liked, money tells what Ellen earned, and radio tells what Ellen bought. Notice that the verbs are
action verbs. The complements receive the action of the verbs. Complements such as these are
called direct objects. A direct object is a word that receives the action of a verb. In the examples
below, the verbs are underlined, and the direct objects are double underlined.
EXAMPLES: I played hockey. I sprained my ankle. A doctor bandaged it.
Hint: To find the direct object of a sentence, ask who or what receives the action of the verb.
EXERCISE ONE
In each of the sentences below, underline the verb or verb phrase and circle the
direct object.
1. People need laws in order to live together peacefully.
2. But some towns have peculiar or outdated laws.
3. For example, you must not slurp your soup in New Jersey.
4. In Scottsbluff, Nebraska, you may not store snowballs in your refrigerator.
5. Do not strike a match in Provo, Utah.
EXERCISE TWO In each sentence below, fill in the blank with a direct object.
1.
Hillary kicked a _____________________ across the field.
2.
For his English assignment, Don read two _____________________.
3.
Max poured some hot _____________________ into a cup.
4.
Lisa and Pat planted _____________________ in their garden.
EXERCISE THREE
Write sentences using each of the following words as direct objects.
1.
vacuum cleaner_____________________________________________________________________________
2.
candle______________________________________________________________________________________
3.
grapefruit___________________________________________________________________________________
4.
Mr. Hollis___________________________________________________________________________________
Complements:
Indirect Objects
A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of a sentence by telling more about the
subject or verb. Recall that a direct object is a complement that follows an action verb. It tells who or what receives
the action of the verb.
A sentence that contains a direct object may also contain another kind of complement, an indirect object. An
indirect object always comes before a direct object. It tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb was done. In
the examples below, the verbs are underlined, the direct objects are double underlined, and the indirect objects are
underlined with dots.
EXAMPLES:
I should have told Mr. Ken the truth.
The customer handed the cashier a check.
EXERCISE FOUR In the sentences below, underline the verbs, circle the direct objects, and
draw boxes around the indirect objects.
• Steven gave me season concert tickets.
1.
The vet gave the cattle vaccinations against disease.
2.
Raymond read the class an article about seals.
3.
Naomi taught her collie some new tricks.
4.
The painters gave the apartment a new coat of paint.
5.
I owe Miss Curtis an apology.
EXERCISE FIVE
In each blank below, write direct or indirect to identify which type of object is
underlined in the sentence.
1.
Carl brought me some vegetables from his garden. _______________
2.
Gene showed Charles his post-card collection. _______________
3.
Larry told everyone the good news about Ashley on Monday morning. _______________
4.
Would you bring me some envelopes from the desk drawer? _______________
5.
Bob loaned Bruce a dollar for lunch money. _______________
EXERCISE SIX For each pair of words below, write a sentence that contains both a direct object and
an indirect object. Remember: An indirect object always comes before a direct object.
1. elephant, peanuts
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. her, question
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Mrs. Briggs, handshake
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. Beth, package
_______________________________________________________________________________
Subject
Complements:
Predicate
Nominatives
A complement is a word or group of words that completes a sentence by telling more about the subject or the
verb. A subject complement is a word or group of words that completes a sentence by telling more about the
subject. In the examples below, the subject complements are underlined.
EXAMPLES: That man is my father.
Donna Winters became a judge.
In the first sentence, the word father completes the sentence by telling more about the subject, man. In the
second sentence, the word judge completes the sentence by telling more about the subject, Donna Winters.
Notice that the subject and the subject complement are connected by a linking verb.
EXERCISE SEVEN In each sentence below, label the subject with S, label the linking verb with LV,
and underline the subject complement.
S
LV
• Jack remains club treasurer for another year.
1.
I was the only senior at the pep rally.
2.
You will be the best person for the job.
3.
James became a cook at a local restaurant.
When the subject complement of a sentence is a noun or pronoun, the subject complement is called a predicate
nominative. A predicate nominative renames the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLES: Huskies
are good watchdogs . (Watchdogs renames huskies.)
My boss is she. (She renames boss.)
EXERCISE EIGHT In the blank that follows each sentence below, write the simple subject and the
predicate nominative. Remember: A predicate nominative renames the subject.
• Until last week the store manager was Mr. Patten.
manager, Mr. Patten
1. Elaine will become the next store manager in April.
__________________
2. That store is the finest delicatessen in the city. ______________________
3.
The town's former mayor is he. ______________________
EXERCISE NINE
In each sentence below, circle the word in parentheses that acts as a predicate
nominative. Remember: A predicate nominative must be a noun or pronoun.
1.
The club president is (Martha, well-liked).
2.
The new directors are all (responsible, volunteers).
3.
One food on the menu is (spaghetti, spicy).
EXERCISE TEN
Complete each of the following sentences by writing a predicate nominative in
the blank. You may have to add a, an, or the.
1.
A carrot is __________________________________________________________________.
2.
Sandy and Angela are _______________________________________________________.
3.
For many years Mr. Dixon has been ________________________________________.
4.
This letter in my hand is ____________________________________________________.
Subject
Complements:
Predicate
Adjectives
A subject complement is a word or group of words that completes a sentence by telling more about the subject.
One kind of subject complement is the predicate nominative. A second kind of subject complement is the
predicate adjective.
Like the predicate nominative, the predicate adjective is linked to the subject of the sentence by a linking verb.
While a predicate nominative must be a noun or pronoun, a predicate adjective is always an adjective. It describes
the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLES: The grass in the backyard is worn. (worn describes grass)
Jill is quite tall. (tall describes Jill)
EXERCISE ELEVEN
In the blank that follows each sentence below, write PN if the underlined
word is a predicate nominative. Write PA if the underlined word is a predicate adjective.
1.
Charles will become a certified airline pilot in two weeks. _____
2.
That blue velvet chair feels soft. _____
3.
Robert is the chairperson of the safety committee. _____
EXERCISE TWELVE
In the first sentence in each pair of sentences below, fill in the blank with a
predicate nominative. Fill in the blank in the second sentence with a predicate adjective. You may have to
add a, an, or the in order to write some predicate nominatives.
• Doris is an engineer.
Doris is reliable.
1.
My sister is __________________________________.
My sister is __________________________________.
2.
I will become __________________________________.
I will become __________________________________.
3. The man in the blue suit is __________________________________.
The man in the blue suit is __________________________________.
4. A writer can become __________________________________.
A writer can become __________________________________.
EXERCISE THIRTEEN
Write four sentences about things you see in your classroom or in your
bedroom at home. Two of the sentences should contain predicate nominatives, and two sentences should
contain predicate adjectives. Underline and label the predicate nominatives with PN. Underline and label the
predicate adjectives with PA.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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