When we write or speak, we want our sentences to be clear and complete. One important part of making sentences clear is complements. Without them, a sentence might feel unfinished or unclear.

In this blog, we’ll explore what complements are, types of complements, and how they help improve sentence clarity.

What Are Complements?

A complement is a word or group of words that gives more information about the subject or object of a sentence. Complements help complete the meaning of the sentence.

Without them, the sentence wouldn’t make sense or would feel incomplete.

♦ Example: She is a teacher.

In this sentence, a teacher is a complement that tells us more about she. It completes the idea of who she is.

Related Reading: Understanding Subject Modifiers

Complete and Incomplete Verbs

First, we need to look at complete and incomplete verbs.

Complete Verbs

Some verbs can form a complete sentence by themselves. These verbs don’t need any extra words to make sense. All they need is a subject. When we add a subject, the sentence is complete because the verb on its own is enough to describe an action or state.

Examples:

♦ Birds fly.
♦ Fishes swim.
♦ The sun shines.
♦ The moon rose.
♦ The man scowled.
♦ The girl laughed.
♦ The owls hooted.
♦ The clock ticked.

These verbs are called complete verbs because they don’t need any extra information to make the sentence clear. The verb is enough to form the predicate.

Incomplete Verbs

Other verbs need something extra to complete the meaning. These verbs can’t make a complete sentence on their own. They need either a noun or an adjective to finish the thought.

Examples:

♦ The hunters killed —— (Incomplete sentence).
♦ Mr. Ng makes —— (Incomplete sentence).
♦ Analise is —— (Incomplete sentence).
♦ The man seemed —— (Incomplete sentence).

These are not complete sentences because they leave us wondering what or who the subject is or what the state of being is. To complete these sentences, we add more information:

Examples:

♦ The hunters killed deer.
♦ Mr. Ng makes shoes.
♦ Analise is captain.
♦ The man seemed sorry.

These verbs are called incomplete verbs because they need an additional word or words to complete the meaning of the sentence.

Types of Complements

Complements help us understand more about the subject or object in the sentence. There are four types of complements:

Direct Object

Some verbs need to be followed by a noun or a thing that receives the action or is affected by it. These verbs are called transitive verbs. Verbs that don’t need this kind of noun are called intransitive verbs.

The noun or thing that completes the meaning of a transitive verb is called a direct object. This is a noun or noun phrase that receives the action of the verb.

♦ Example: The hunters killed deer.

Deer is the direct object because it is the thing being killed (the receiver of the action).

Sometimes, the direct object is also called the object

Examples:

♦ Alfred has broken his arm. (Arm is the direct object because it is what was broken by the action of the verb broken.)
♦ Morse invented the electric telegraph. (Telegraph is the direct object because it is what was invented.)
♦ Black foxes command a high price. (Price is the direct object because it is what is commanded.)
♦ You have accomplished a task of great difficulty. (Task is the direct object because it is what was accomplished.)
♦ Have you lost the dog which your uncle gave you? (Dog is the direct object because it is what was lost.)
♦ He asked me the news. (Here, there are two direct objects: me and the news.)

In these examples, some direct objects are modified by other words. For example

Examples:

♦ Arm is modified by his (possessive).
♦ Telegraph is modified by electric.
♦ Price is modified by high.
♦ Task is modified by the phrase of great difficulty.
♦ Dog is modified by which your uncle gave you (an adjective clause).

Noun Clauses as Direct Objects

Sometimes, a noun clause can also be the direct object of a verb.

Examples:

♦ You promised that my coat would be ready today. (That my coat would be ready to-day is the direct object, explaining what was promised.)
♦ The mayor ordered that the street should be closed for three hours. (That the street should be closed for three hours is the direct object, explaining what was ordered.)
♦ I begged that my passport might be returned. (That my passport might be returned is the direct object, explaining what was begged for.)

In these cases, the direct object helps complete the meaning of the verb, telling us what is being affected by the action.

Predicate Objective

Some verbs, like choosing, calling, naming, making, and thinking, can take two objects that refer to the same person or thing.

The first object is the direct object, and the second object, which completes the meaning of the verb, is called a predicate objective.

This is a noun or noun phrase that gives more information about the object in the sentence.

♦ Example: Mr. Ng makes shoes.

Shoes is the predicate objective because it tells us what Mr. Ng makes (the product of the action).

The predicate objective helps explain or give more details about the first object. It is sometimes called a complementary object or objective attribute.

Examples:

♦ The people have elected Chamberlain governor. (Governor is the predicate objective because it explains what Chamberlain was elected as.)
♦ Priya calls Rohan my shadow. (My shadow is the predicate objective, giving more detail about Rohan.)
♦ The court has appointed you the child’s guardian. (The child’s guardian is the predicate objective, explaining what you were appointed as.)
♦ Arjun thinks himself a hero. (A hero is the predicate objective, explaining what Arjun thinks he is.)

Adjectives as Predicate Objectives

Sometimes, adjectives can be used as predicate objectives. They describe or give more information about the first object in the sentence.

Examples:

♦ I thought your decision hasty. (Hasty is the predicate objective, describing the decision.)
♦ I call that answer impertinent. (Impertinent is the predicate objective, explaining what kind of answer it is.)
♦ The jury found the prisoner guilty. (Guilty is the predicate objective, describing the prisoner.)
♦ Your letter made him joyful. (Joyful is the predicate objective, explaining how the letter made him feel.)

A Caution About Adverbs

Be careful not to confuse adverbs with adjectives that end in -ly when they are used as predicate objectives.

♦ Example: You called him sickly. (Sickly is an adjective describing him.)
♦ Example: You called him early. (Early is an adverb describing when he was called, not what he was called.)

Predicate Nominative

A predicate nominative is a noun (or noun phrase) that follows a linking verb and gives more information about the subject of the sentence.

♦ Example: Elizabeth is captain.

Captain is the predicate nominative because it tells us what Elizabeth is, and it refers to the subject Elizabeth.

It describes or defines the subject. The predicate nominative must agree with the subject in terms of case (both are in the nominative case) and provides more detail about the subject.

A predicate nominative is often called a subject complement or an attribute. It usually comes after linking verbs like is, was, became, or other similar verbs.

Examples:

♦ Chemistry is a useful science. (Science is the predicate nominative because it describes what chemistry is.)
♦ Boston is the capital of Massachusetts. (Capital is the predicate nominative because it tells us what Boston is.)
♦ Jefferson became President. (President is the predicate nominative because it explains what Jefferson became.)
♦ This bird is called a flamingo. (Flamingo is the predicate nominative because it describes the bird.)
♦ Mr. Hale was appointed secretary. (Secretary is the predicate nominative because it tells us what Mr. Hale was appointed as.)
♦ Albert has been chosen captain of the crew. (Captain is the predicate nominative because it explains what Albert has been chosen as.)
♦ You are a friend upon whom I can rely. (Friend is the predicate nominative, describing you.)

In most of these examples, the predicate nominative is modified by other words to give more details.

Examples:

♦ In Chemistry is a useful science, science is modified by the adjectives a and useful.
♦ In Boston is the capital of Massachusetts, capital is modified by the phrase of Massachusetts.
♦ In You are a friend upon whom I can rely, friend is modified by the adjective clause upon whom I can rely.

Noun Clauses as Predicate Nominatives

We can use a noun clause as a predicate nominative.

Examples:

♦ My plan is that the well should be dug tomorrow. (That the well should be dug tomorrow is the predicate nominative, explaining what the plan is.)
♦ His intention was that you should remain here. (That you should remain here is the predicate nominative, explaining what the intention was.)
♦ The result is that he is bankrupt. (That he is bankrupt is the predicate nominative, describing the result.)
♦ Ruth’s fear was that the door might be locked. (That the door might be locked is the predicate nominative, explaining what the fear was.)

Infinitives as Predicate Nominatives

An infinitive (the to form of a verb) can also act as a predicate nominative.

Examples:

♦ To hear is to obey. (To obey is the predicate nominative, explaining what to hear is.)
♦ My hope was to reach the summit before dark. (To reach the summit before dark is the predicate nominative, describing the hope.)
♦ Their plan was to undermine the tower. (To undermine the tower is the predicate nominative, explaining the plan.)
♦ My habit is to rise early. (To rise early is the predicate nominative, describing the habit.)

An infinitive can also have its own complements or modifiers.

Examples:

♦ In My hope was to reach the summit before dark, to reach has a complement the summit.
♦ In Their plan was to undermine the tower, to undermine has a complement the tower.
♦ In My habit is to rise early, to rise is modified by the adverb early.

In all these cases, the predicate nominative helps to clarify or define the subject by providing more information.

Predicate Adjective

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb (like is, was, seems) and describes or gives more information about the subject of the sentence. It helps complete the meaning of the verb and is called a complement.

♦ Example: The man seemed sorry.

Sorry is the predicate adjective because it describes the subject man.

Just like the predicate nominative, a predicate adjective usually comes after linking verbs and sometimes after certain transitive verbs in the passive voice.

Examples:

♦ John was angry. (Angry is the predicate adjective because it describes John.)
♦ My knife is growing dull. (Dull is the predicate adjective because it describes the knife.)
♦ The task seemed very easy. (Easy is the predicate adjective, and it describes the task. The word very is an adverb that modifies easy.)
♦ The report proved false in every particular. (False is the predicate adjective, and it describes the report. In every particular is a phrase that modifies false.)
♦ The boat was thought unsafe. (Unsafe is the predicate adjective, and it describes the boat.)
♦ The cover was made perfectly tight. (Tight is the predicate adjective, and perfectly is an adverb that modifies tight.)

Adjective Phrases as Predicate Adjectives

An adjective phrase can also be used as a predicate adjective. An adjective phrase is a group of words that works together to describe something.

Examples:

♦ Richard was out of health. (Out of health is the adjective phrase describing Richard’s condition. It’s similar to saying Richard was ill.)
♦ Rachel seemed in a passion. (In a passion is the adjective phrase describing Rachel’s state. It’s like saying Rachel seemed angry.)
♦ This act is against my interests. (Against my interests is the adjective phrase, and it describes what the act is. It’s like saying the act is harmful to me.)

Infinitives as Predicate Adjectives

An infinitive (the to form of a verb) can also act as a predicate adjective. Sometimes the infinitive will have a preposition like about, but it doesn’t always.

Examples:

♦ I was about to speak. (To speak is the predicate adjective, describing the action I was about to take.)
♦ This house is to let. (To let is the predicate adjective, describing the house.)
♦ I am to sail tomorrow. (To sail is the predicate adjective, describing what I am going to do.)

In all these examples, the predicate adjective helps complete the meaning of the verb and gives more information about the subject.

Common Mistakes with Complements

Sometimes, it’s easy to confuse complements with other parts of a sentence, like modifiers. Modifiers describe or change the meaning of a word, but they are not complements.

♦ Example: She looks happy. (Happy is a complement because it tells us more about she.)
♦ Example: She looks very happy. (Very is a modifier because it only describes how happy she looks, not completing the sentence’s meaning.)

Another common error is using complements wrong or leaving them out.

♦ Example: The judge declared him. (This sentence is incomplete because it doesn’t have a complement to explain what him is declared as.)
♦ Example: The judge declared him innocent. (This sentence is complete because innocent is the complement.)

Another common error is using complements wrong or leaving them out.

Related Reading: How to Use Conditional Sentences

Practice Exercises

Underline the complements and identify the type of each sentence.

1. She is a teacher.
2. The movie was exciting.
3. The children are playing soccer.
4. He became the president of the club.
5. The cake smells delicious.
6. I found the keys on the table.
7. She considers him a good friend.
8. The teacher called John a genius.
9. The sun is shining brightly.
10. We painted the fence white.
11. Tom looks tired.
12. The room was filled with books.
13. I called my dog Buddy.
14. The children consider the movie interesting.
15. They made the task easier.
16. She thought the answer was correct.
17. The coach named her the team captain.
18. His idea was to start a new business.
19. The movie was about a journey to the mountains.
20. My goal is to finish the project by Friday

Related Reading: Understanding Sentences, Phrases, and Clauses

Key Takeaways

1. Complements Complete the Meaning of the Verb: complements help finish the thought by providing more details about the subject or object in a sentence. Without them, the sentence may feel incomplete.
2. Look for Linking Verbs: Many complements come after linking verbs like is, are, was, were, seems, looks, etc. These verbs connect the subject to the complement.
3. Direct Objects Follow Action Verbs: A direct object answers what? or whom? after the verb and completes the action.
4. Predicate Adjectives Describe the Subject: A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence.

5. Predicate Nominatives Rename the Subject: A predicate nominative comes after a linking verb and renames or defines the subject.
6. Be Careful with Adjective Clauses: Sometimes, complements can include adjective clauses.
7. Don’t Confuse Complements with Modifiers: Modifiers describe or limit a word, but they don’t complete the meaning of the verb.
8. Predicate Objectives Can Be Nouns or Adjectives: A predicate objective follows certain action verbs (like choose, call, think) and completes the meaning of the verb. It can be a noun or adjective.
9. Modifiers Can Be Added to Complements: Complements can be modified by adjectives, adverbs, or phrases that give more detail.
10. An Infinitive Can Be a Predicate Nominative: An infinitive (to + verb) can sometimes act as a complement.

Last Words on Complements

Complements are an important part of grammar because they help us create clear, complete sentences. They give more detail about the subject, object, or other parts of a sentence. By understanding and using complements correctly, you can make your writing easier to understand and more interesting.

So next time you write a sentence, make sure you have a complement to complete it and make your ideas clearer. Happy writing!

Happy writing!

Linda

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