Complements: Subject complements and objects of verbs

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Complements Subject complements and objects of
verbs

• October 16,17 2006

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Overview

• A compliment is a word or group of words that
  complements the meaning of a verb. There are 2
  kinds of complements subject complements and
  objects of verbs.

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Subject Complements

• A subject complement is a word or group of words
  that follows a linking verb and renames or
  describes the subject.
• Ex Oklahoma is the Sooner State.
• Sooner State is describing or renaming Oklahoma.

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Predicate Nouns

• A predicate Noun follows a linking verb and
  defines or renames the subject.
• Ex Oklahoma City is the largest city in
  Oklahoma.
• City renames Oklahoma City
• Ex The capital of Texas is Austin.
• Austin renames the capital.

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Predicate adjectives

• A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and
  describes a quality of the subject.
• Ex The capital building is fantastic.
• Fantastic describes the building.
• Ex The cafeteria is fragrant of onions today.
• Fragrant describes cafeteria.

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Objects of verbs

• In addition to subject complements there are
  objects of verbs. Action verbs often need
  complements called direct objects and indirect
  objects to complete their meanings.

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Direct Objects

• A direct object is a word or group of words that
  names the receiver of the action. Answers the
  question what.
• Ex Many Beijing residents ride bicycles.
• Ride what? Bicycles.
• Ex Buckley fetches the bones we throw in the
  yard.
• Fetches what? Bones.

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Indirect objects

• An indirect object is a word or group of words
  that tells to whom or to what an action is
  performed. An indirect object usually comes
  between a verb and a direct object.
• Ex Mass transit offers people easy commutes.
• Offers what? Commutes. (DO)
• To whom? People. (IO)

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Finding direct and indirect objects

• 1. find the action verb in the sentence. (if it
  is a linking verb, it is a predicate noun or
  adjective)
• 2. To find the direct object, ask verb what?
• 3. To find the indirect object, ask verb did
  what to whom?