Transcript Complements - Stanhope Public School

Complements
No, not the kind where you say
something nice about someone
else.
A complement is a word or a word group
that completes the meaning of a verb.
Incomplete
Marlene brought. (what?)
Complete
Marlene brought sandwiches.
Incomplete
Carlos thanked. (whom?)
Complete
Carlos thanked her.
Incomplete
We were. (what?)
Complete
We were hungry.
Remember…
**A complement can be a noun, a pronoun,
or an adjective.**
**A complement answers the following
questions:
WHAT?
WHO?
WHOM?
There are 4 types of Complements
Direct Object
Indirect Object
follow action verbs
Action verbs are verbs like run, think, walk, dream,
see, play, have, has
Predicate Nominative
Predicate Adjective
follow linking verbs
Linking verbs include am, is, are, was, were, seems,
appears, becomes, grows, feels
Action Verb vs. Linking Verb
Some verbs can be both action verbs and linking verbs:
taste, sound, appear, grow, feel, remain, stay, look
How can you tell the difference?
Substitute a “to be” verb (am, is, are, was, were) for the
original verb. If the sentence’s meaning remains the same,
then the original verb is a linking verb. If the meaning
changes, then the original verb is an action verb.
Betty tasted the pudding.
The pudding tasted sweet.
Betty WAS the pudding.
The pudding WAS sweet.
The second sentence contains the linking verb.
Remember…
**An adverb is never a complement.**
The dog is outside.
The dog is friendly.
**A complement is never part of a prepositional phrase.**
Ben is studying for his geography test.
Ben is studying his geography notes.
Nominative Case Pronouns - used as
subjects and predicate nominatives
First Person
Singular
I
Plural
we
Second Person
you
you
Third Person
he, she, it
they
This case is also sometimes called the noun case.
Objective Case Pronouns - used as direct
objects, indirect objects, objects of
preposition
Singular
Plural
First Person
me
us
Second Person
you
you
Third Person
him, her, it
them
Possessive Case Pronouns - used to
show possession
Singular
Plural
First Person
mine
ours
Second Person
yours
yours
Third Person
his, hers, its
theirs
The words my, our, your, her, their are sometimes called
pronouns, but they are actually possessive adjectives
If you have difficulty identifying
complements 1. Cross out the prepositional phrases.
2. Locate the verb.
3. Find the subject.
4. Find the complement that receives the action or
identifies the subject.
Now go and use your knowledge for good!
May the schwartz be with you!