COMPLEMENT IN SENTENCE PATTERN

Sentence

A sentence is not just a string of words which are randomly put together. There is a definable set of constituents that combine to make sentences. We have a set of rules which are used to combine these constituents. Basic Elements of a Sentence

Subject (S), Verb (V), Object (0), Complement (C), Adverbial (A)

Subject

The subject shows who or what is doing the action. It is always some form of noun or pronoun.

verb

The verb shows the action or the state of being.

Object

An object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb in a sentence.

Complement

A complement is a word or word group that completes the predicate in a sentence.

Adjunct

An adjunct is a word, phrase or clause that can be removed from a sentence without making it grammatically incorrect.

Types of complements

There are different types of complements in English:

Subject complement

Object complement

Adjective complement

Verb complement

Adverbial complement

Subject Complements

Subject complements rename or describe the subjects of sentences. They always follow linking verbs.

He is the principal.

In this example, the subject complement ‘principal’ explains the subject ‘he’. It tells what he is.

Shiny is the winner.

In this example, the subject complement ‘winner’ tells what Shiny is.

Object Complements

An object complement always follows the direct object and either renames or describes the direct object.

She named the baby Babu.

The verb is ‘named’.

‘Baby’ is the direct object.

‘Babu’ is the object complement.

Examples

Joseph's teacher called him a troublemaker.

The teacher's remark made him angry.

They chose me as group leader.

We consider him a fool.

The students elected him the class monitor.

Here, the object complement ‘the class monitor’ is a noun phrase that is modifying the object ‘him‘.

Nouns as object complement

The company just made Ram our team leader.

In this sentence, ‘our team leader’ is the object complement (noun phrase) that is renaming the object ‘him’.

The object complement is either a noun or a noun phrase or it can be a noun clause too.

I will call you whatever I want. (You = whatever I want)

Adjectives as object complement

Talking to Rohini makes me happy.

Here, the object complement ‘happy’ is an adjective that is modifying the object ‘me‘.

Adjective complement

An adjective complement is a phrase or a clause that completes the meaning of an adjective by giving more information about it.

Prepositional phrase as an adjective complement

A prepositional phrase often functions as an adjective complement in a sentence.

Prepositional phrases are formed by using a preposition and its object (noun, noun phrase, noun clause, pronoun).

I am mad about your score.

Here, ‘about your score’ is a prepositional phrase that’s working as an adjective complement.

Infinitive phrase as an adjective complement

When an infinitive phrase functions as an adjective complement, it talks about the reason for the adjective (state).

I am happy to see you again.

Noun clause as an adjective complement

It is evident that she is angry with us.

Here, the noun clause is giving more information about the adjective ‘evident’ and telling us what is evident. It is functioning as a modifier: giving information about an adjective.

Verb Complement

A verb complement is usually an object that comes after a verb and completes its meaning. Adverbial complement

An adverbial complement is an adverb or an adverbial that completes the meaning of a verb.

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