Nouns as Subject

Complement
 A predicate noun follows a linking verb and defines or renames the
subject.
The painting is a still life.
SUBJECT PREDICATE
NOUN
A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes a quality of the
subject.
This painting of a forest is unusually beautiful.
SUBJECT PREDICATE
ADJECTIV
What is a Complement?
- a word or group of words that
describes or renames a subject, an
object or a verb.
What is a complement?
• Complement: the words added to complete an
incomplete sentence.
Example:
The boy seemed ... upset.
The dog is … hungry.

To make them complete: add a complement.

There are 2 types of Complements:

• Subject Complement
• Object Complement
Subject Complement

• An adjective or a noun that

renames or defines in some
way the subject.
• Follows a linking verb which
links it to its subject.
What is a linking verb?
• A linking verb is used to re-
identify or to describe its
subject. A linking verb is called
a linking verb because it links
the subject to a subject
complement.
 Subject Complement
Examples:
• Joe is a lover of apples.
Subject: Joe Subject Complement: lover
• Jacob’s new kite was blue.
• Subject: kite Subject Complement: blue
• The driver seems tired.
Subject: driver
Subject Complement: tired
There are 2 types of Subject
Complements:

• Noun Complement
• Adjective Complement
Noun Complement

• A noun or pronoun that appears

with a linking verb and
renames, identifies, or explains
the subject of the sentence.
 Noun Complement
Examples:
Joe is a gourmet. (noun subject complement after
verb of being)
Joe became a gourmet. (noun subject
complement after linking verb)
Adjective Complement
• An adjective complement is a
functional part of a sentence that
completes, or complements, the
adjective. As mentioned, it can be
a noun clause or a prepositional
phrase.
Noun Clause
• It’s simply set of two or more words
that act like a noun. It may be the
subject of a sentence, an object of
a verb or preposition, or they can
complement a subject or adjective.
 Noun Clause
Examples:
That he will accept the job is certain.

That he will accept the job - Noun Clause

That + Subject + Transitive Verb + Object
 Noun Clause
Examples:
I know that he is innocent.

that he is innocent - Noun Clause

That + Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective
Prepositional Phrase
• A prepositional phrase always
begins with a preposition and in
turn helps in modifying verbs and
nouns both.
 Prepositional Phrase
Examples:
● He was hesitant to tell his friends.
● My boss was anxious to promote sales.
● Are you afraid of cats?
● We were thrilled by the incident.
Object Complement

• An adjective, a noun, or a
phrase that renames or
defines in some way the object
of the transitive verb; NOT the
subject.
Object Complement

• used to represent one or more words

followed by a direct object and
sometimes to modify the same. They are
generally used to describe the object
used in a sentence or to rename it. It
may be an adjective, a noun, group of
words used as an adjective or noun.
 Object Complement
Examples:
• I consider the driver tired.
Object: driver Object Complement: tired
• Paint it black.
Object: it Object Complement: black
• The jury found Taylor innocent.
Object: Taylor
Object Complement: innocent
Verb Complement

A verb complement represents a clause or

phrase similar to the adjective
complement. It may act as an object of a
verb in either a direct or indirect way in
accordance to the needs.
 Verb Complement
Examples:
A verb without a complement: ''Kara builds.''

A verb with a complement: ''Kara builds an

enormous tower.''
 Complement
Subject Object
Complement Complement

Noun Adjective
Complement Complement Verb
Complement
Noun Prepositional
Clause Phrase