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BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Parts of Sentences: Subject, Predicate (verb), Object, Indirect Object, object Complement

Every word in a sentence serves a specific purpose within the structure of that particular
sentence. According to rules of grammar, sentence structure can sometimes be quite complicated. For
the sake of simplicity, however, the basic parts of a sentence are discussed here.

The two most basic parts of a sentence are the subject and predicate.

SUBJECT

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that is performing the action of the
sentence. The subject represents what or whom the sentence is about. The simple subject usually
contains a noun or pronoun and can include modifying words, phrases, or clauses.

The man  . . .

PREDICATE (verb)

The predicate expresses action or being within the sentence. The simple predicate contains the verb
and can also contain modifying words, phrases, or clauses.

The man /   builds a house.

The subject and predicate make up the two basic structural parts of any complete sentence. In addition,
there are other elements, contained within the subject or predicate, that add meaning or detail. These
elements include the direct object, indirect object, and subject complement. All of these elements can
be expanded and further combined into simple, compound, complex, or compound/complex sentences.

DIRECT OBJECT

The direct object receives the action of the sentence. The direct object is usually a noun or pronoun.

The man builds a house. 

The man builds  it.

INDIRECT OBJECT

The indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action of the sentence is being done. The
indirect object is usually a noun or pronoun.

The man builds  his family  a house. 

The man builds  them  a house.

SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

A subject complement either renames or describes the subject, and therefore is usually a noun,
pronoun, or adjective. Subject complements occur when there is a linking verb within the sentence
(often a linking verb is a form of the verb to be).
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The man is a good  father. (father = noun which renames the subject)

The man seems  kind. (kind = adjective which describes the subject)

Note: As an example of the difference between parts of speech and parts of a sentence, a noun can
function within a sentence as subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, or subject
complement.

Object complement: An object complement is a word that follows a direct object to state what it has
become. An object complement may be a noun, pronoun, or adjective. It may be a word or phrase that
gives further meaning to the direct object. In a sense, it explains what the direct object has become.

 He made her happy.

 “her” is the direct object

 “happy” is the object compliment

 “happy” is what she, the direct object (“her”), has become

Object compliments and subject complements are not the same.

An object complement gives further meaning to the object.

A subject complement, however, gives further meaning to the subject. A subject complement will only
follow a linking verb and describes the subject, not the object.

Examples of Object vs. Subject Complements:

 Faisal made Ali frustrated.

 “Ali” is the direct object

 “frustrated” is the object compliment

 “frustrated” is what he, the direct object (“Ali”), has become

 Ali was frustrated.

 was = linking verb

 frustrated = subject complement

As you have read earlier, Object complements can be nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. Here are some
examples of them.

Object Complements as Nouns

A noun object complement can be a single word or a phrase.

 Shan named Munib the new manager.

 “Munib” is the direct object

 “the new manager” is a noun phrase

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 “the new manager” is the object compliment

 “the new manager” is what Munib, the direct object, has become

Object Complements as Pronouns

 They chose the candidate who was best.

 “the candidate” is the direct object

 “who was best” is a relative pronoun phrase

 “who was best” is the object compliment

 “who was best” is what the candidate, the direct object, has become

Object Complements as Adjectives

An adjective object complement can be a single word or a phrase.

 We considered him worthy.

 “him” is the direct object

 “worthy” is an adjective

 “worthy” is the object compliment

 “worthy” is what he, the direct object (“him”), has become

Common Verbs for Object Complements

Object complements require the sentence to have a direct object. Consequently, some verbs more
commonly produce object complements than others. Below are some of those verbs with sentence
examples.

 to make: They made him supervisor.

 to name: We named our dog Peter.

 to call: She called me silly.

 to choose: We chose James for captain.

 to elect: They elected Margaret Board President.

So, an object complement is a complement that follows a linking verb and modifies or complete the
sentence’s object.

 
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