SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS

In English there are many types of complements. The main thing to remember is that a complement completes an idea, whether it is a phrase, a clause or a word.

SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

While transitive verbs require an object, linking verbs can require a subject complement. The subject complement does exactly what the name suggests, it complements (completes) the subject, giving it a quality or a name.

e.g. SHE WAS EXHAUSTED.
- "Exhausted" gives a quality to the subject (she = exhausted)

e.g. THE PUNCH SMELLS STRANGE.
- "Strange" gives a quality to the subject (the punch = strange)

e.g. THEIR DEPARTMENT BECAME THE CENTRAL AREA FOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS.
- "The central area for customer relations" gives its subject a name.

ADJECTIVES (QUALITY) AS SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS

When a complement gives a subject a quality, it is usually an adjective, or an adjective phrase.

e.g. HER VOICE SOUNDED EXTREMELY MODERN.
- "Extremely modern" gives a quality to the subject (her voice = extremely modern)

e.g. MY SON SEEMED LONELY.
- "Lonely" gives a quality to the subject (my son = lonely)

e.g. THE WAKE WAS GHASTLY.
- "Ghastly" gives a quality to the subject (the wake = ghastly)

e.g. THE SUBTITLES WERE OUT OF SYNC.
- "Out of sync" gives a quality to the subject (the subtitles = out of sync)

NOUNS (NAMES) AS SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS

When a complement gives a subject a name, it is usually a noun, a noun phrase or a noun clause. In the three examples below, all subject complements can be substituted for a simple noun (e.g. this, these, it, them, John, Sally etc).

e.g. FIRECRACKERS CAN BE WEAPONS.
- "Weapons" = "these" (noun).

e.g. OUR FILING CABINET IS A HUGE, STEEL-GRAY MONSTROSITY.
- "a huge, steel-gray monstrosity" = "this" (noun phrase).

e.g. THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DO WE PAY.
- "how much do we pay" = "this" (noun clause).

IMPORTANT

Adverbs are not subject complements.

e.g. SHE APPEARED IN THE DOORWAY.
- "in the doorway" refers to a place. It is not qualifying "she".