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".
8 Comments:
good job.
11:41 AM
nice doodoo.
11:42 AM
cha cha cha sharmen
11:43 AM
ctgdtgdtegdgcdgfgfg oops
11:45 AM
boo you.
11:46 AM
I'm kiding.
11:47 AM
weferg4r5wyftthgtrhrftghtyhngtyhytnghjnynghnvans are cool.
11:48 AM
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!
11:48 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home