COMPLEMENTS

In grammar, a complement is a word or word group that completes the predicate in a sentence.
In contrast to modifiers, which are optional, complements are required to complete the meaning
of a sentence or a part of a sentence.
Below you'll find discussions of two common types of complements: subject complements
(which follow the verb be and other linking verbs) and object complements (which follow a
direct object).
Subject Complements:
"Subject complements rename or describe the subjects of sentences. In other words, they
complement the subjects.
"Many of these complements are nouns, pronouns, or other nominals that rename or provide
additional information about the subject of the sentence. They also perform a role of an adjective.
Examples:
• He is the boss.
• Nancy is the winner.
• My friends are careless.
• My uniform is torn and dirty.
• My uniform is a T-shirt and jeans.
• "Love is an exploding cigar we willingly smoke."– Lynda Barry
• My coworkers are friendly.
• This story is exciting.
Object Complements:
"An object complement always follows the direct object and either renames or describes the
direct object. Consider this sentence:
She named the baby Ezabella.
"The verb is named. To find the subject, ask, 'Who or what named?' The answer is she, so she is
the subject. Now ask, 'Whom or what did she name?' She named the baby, so baby is the direct
object. Any word following the direct object that renames or describes the direct object is an
object complement. She named the baby Ezabella, so Ezabella is the object complement."
Examples:
• Jimmy's teacher called him a troublemaker.
• The teacher's remark made me angry.