COMPLEMENTS

1. COMPLEMENTS Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

2. Complements • A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning begun by the subject and verb Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

3. Complements • Example • Snow blanketed the sidewalk. • Snow (subject) • Blanketed (verb) • Sidewalk (complement) • If we just had the subject and the verb (snow blanketed), the sentence would be incomplete. • The complement tells us what was blanketed by the snow. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

4. Complements • Like the subject of a sentence, a complement is never part of a prepositional phrase. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

5. Complements • Example • He ate one of the sandwiches. • The complement is one, not sandwiches; sandwiches is part of the prepositional phrase Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

6. Complements • An adverb modifying a verb is not a complement. • Complements may be nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

7. Complements • Example • She plays hard. • Hard is an adverb, modifying how she plays and is therefore not a complement. • The baseball is hard. • Hard, here an adjective, is a complement. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

8. The Subject Complement • A subject complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb. It identifies, describes, or explains the subject. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

9. The Subject Complement • Examples • Jim is a good student. • Student identifies the subject, Jim. • Lisa is humble. • Humble identifies the subject, Lisa Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

10. Types of Subject Complements • Predicate Nominative • If the subject complement is a noun or pronoun, it is a predicate nominative • Predicate Adjective • If the subject complement is an adjective, it is called a predicate adjective Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

11. Types of Subject Complements • Examples • Jim is a good student. • student is a noun and therefore a predicate nominative • Lisa is humble. • humble is an adjective and therefore a predicate adjective Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

12. Distinguishing BetweenSubject and Complement • When the sentence is not composed in the traditional order (Subject + Verb+ Complement), it may be difficult to tell the subject from the complement Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

13. Distinguishing BetweenSubject and Complement • Verb + Subject + Complement • Was he the donor of the organs? • Was—Verb • He—Subject • Donor—Complement • Usually, the subject comes before the complement. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

14. Distinguishing BetweenSubject and Complement • Complement Coming First • How strange is life! • Strange—Complement • Is—Verb • Life—Subject Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

15. Distinguishing BetweenSubject and Complement • Helpful Hint • Consider which word is more likely to be the subject of the sentence • Use common sense! Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

16. Assignment • Please rewrite the following sentences. For each sentence, underline the simple subject one time; underline the simple predicate two times; and circle the subject complement. Finally, identify the subject complement as predicate nominate (PN) or predicate adjective (PA). Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

17. Assignment • Are those girls your cousins? • How friendly everyone seems! • Ginger is a superb athlete. • The Canterbury Tales is a great poem. • How bright the stars seem tonight. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements

18. Assignment 6. What a fine cook your mother is! 7. When does a house become a home? 8. Our dog is usually friendly. 9. Mr. Thomas was a teacher of extraordinary dedication. 10. Borat is a great movie. Geschke--English IV Grammar Unit--Complements