Complements

Intro to LitComplementsComplementA word or group of words that completes the meaning of the predicate of a sentence

5 typesdirect objectsindirect objectsobjective complementspredicate nominativespredicate adjectives

Direct Objectnoun, pronoun, or group of words acting as a noun that receives the action of a transitive verb. To find the DO in a sentence, ask who or what after an action verb. (trans verbs only)The scientists studied the lab results.Holly watched her sister after school.

In some inverted questions, the DO will appear near the beginning of the sentence, before the verb. To find the DO, rephrase the question.

Ex: Which book did you read?You did read which book?A verb may have more than one direct object, called a compound direct object. Ex: She played volleyball and basketball. Indirect Object noun or pronoun that appears with a direct object and names the person or thing that something is given to or done for. Jack gave Mary the flowers.Cedric promised the CIA answers in exchange for his life.

Indirect Objects appear only with transitive action verbs and are usually found after such verbs as:

ask, bring, buy, give, lend, make, promise, show, teach, tell and write.

Indirect Objects continuedTo find the Indirect Object, first make sure that the sentence has a Direct Object, then ask to or for whom? or to or for what? after the verb and the Direct Object.The Indirect Object will always come BEFORE the Direct ObjectRemember that the Indirect Object is never the object of the preposition to or forEx: She took the NASA souvenir (for her sister).(for her sister) is a prep phraseRearrange: She took her sister a NASA souvenir.

Objective Complement An adjective or noun that appears with a direct object and describes or renames it. Objective Complements are found only after such verbs as: appoint, call, consider, elect, label, make, name, or think.

Maria called Rob clever.Please consider my offer honestly.

Subject Complement: a noun, pronoun, or an adjective that appears with a linking verb and tells something about the subject. Predicate NominativePredicate Adjectivenoun or pronoun that appears with a linking verb and renames, identifies, or explains the subject.

Her dad is a carpenter.My car was a convertible.

adjective that appears with a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence.

The food tastes spicy. That class is awesome.

Practice: What complement is the underlined word?That bag looks heavy.Mark became a lawyer because he father was one.This building is the newest one on campus.Ricky sent Dana some red roses.Susie is the class president this year.Hey, dont kick the wall!This dinner tastes delicious!Mrs. Smith appointed Maria team captain.I served breakfast to my mom. We remained close friends after the break up.