A predicative complement completes the meaning of a sentence by giving

information about a noun. Predicative complements follow linking verbs (i.e.,

verbs which do not denote an action but rather connect a noun to information
about the noun).

Most commonly, linking verbs are forms of be (e.g., is, are, was, etc.). Other

linking verbs include appear, feel, look, and seem.

An example of a predicative complement is angry in the following:

Greg felt angry.

Notice how angry gives more information about the noun Greg and how the

verb felt is used to link Greg to that information rather than telling the reader
about an action that was carried out.

Predicative Complements

There also are NPs which follow a verb but which do not behave as DOs or IOs. Consider the

following sentences:

(24) a. This is my ultimate goal.

b. Michelle became an architect.

(25) a. They elected Graham chairman.

b. I consider Andrew the best writer

The italicized elements here are traditionally called ‘predicative complements’ in the sense that they function as the

predicate of the subject or the object. However, even though they are NPs, they do not passivize:

(26) a. *Chairman was elected Graham.

b. *The best writer was considered Andrew.

The difference between objects and predicative complements can also be seen in the following contrast:

a. John made Kim a great doll.

b. John made Kim a great doctor.

Even though the italicized expressions here are both NPs, they function differently. The NP a great doll in (27a) is

the direct object, as in John made a great doll for Kim, whereas the NP a great doctor in (27b) cannot be an object:
it serves as the predicate of the object Kim. If we think of part of the meaning informally, only in the second

example would we say that the final NP describes the NP Kim.

(28) a. (27)a: Kim ≠ a great doll

b. (27)b: Kim = a great doctor

In addition, phrases other than NPs can serve as predicative complements:

(29) a. The situation became terrible.

b. This map is what he wants.

c. The message was that you should come on time.

(30) a. I made Kim angry.

b. I consider him immoral.

c. I regard Andrew as the best writer.

d. They spoil their kids rotten.

The italicized complements function to predicate a property of the subject in (29) and of the

object in (30).

Test for identifying predicative complements in English

 A predicative complement follows a 'linking verb' (copula verb)
** This is [a good idea]pred.comp.
o Pat will always remain a good friend.
o The committee elected John [chairman]pred.comp.
o Pat considered Kim [a genius]pred.comp.
 Passivization: A predicative complement cannot be passivized:
*A genius was considered Kim by Pat. (compare with passivization of the direct object: Kim
was considered a genius by Pat.)
Categories and structural position
 The predicative complement can be any major phrase (NP, AP, PP, VP)
 The predicative complement is a sister to V and a daughter to VP.
 If there is a direct object, the predicative complement follows the direct object.
Example:

_S_
/ \
/ AuxP
/ / \
subj / __VP___
/ / / \
/ / / pred.comp
/ / / \
NP Aux V _______NP________
/__\ | | /_________________\
Pat will become president of the US.