Complements and Completers

2013

Complement and Completers

• A complement or a completer is a word or a group of words that completes the meaning begun by the subject and the verb.

Examples:

-I planted flowers in my garden.

-That poem was humorous.-Ms. Musynske gave her students a party.-The winner is he.

Complements and Completers May Be:

• NounsPronounsAdjectives

Complements and Completers

• Complements can never be an adverb or be a word in a prepositional phrase.

Four Types of Complements and

Completers• DIRECT OBJECTS

• INDIRECT OBJECTS *** These two types of completers follow action verbs.

Four Types of Complements or

Completers• PREDICATE NOMINATIVES• PREDICATE ADJECTIVES

***These two types of complements follow linking verbs.

Direct Objects

• A direct object is a completer which follows an action verb.

• To find the direct object follow these steps:

• Find the subject and the verb.

• Label prep. phrases• Ask “whom” or

“what” after the verb

Examples:

• We read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

• The boys recited the speech in social studies class.

• The teacher corrected the quiz papers.

• We completed our homework during study hall.

Indirect Objects

• An indirect object follows an action verb.

• It comes after the verb but before the direct object.

• Not every sentence will have an indirect object.

• To find the indirect object follow these steps:

• Find the subject and the verb.

• Label prep.phrases.

• Check for direct object. Ask “whom” or “ what’ after the verb.

• Check for indirect object. Ask “ to whom” or “for whom” after the direct object.

Examples:• Ms. Musynske gave her

students a party.

• The principal gave the boy his award for good citizenship.

• The vet gave the puppy a shot.

• Beauty Smith gave White Fang a brutal beating.

Predicate Nominatives

• A predicate nominative is a complement that follows a linking verb.

• It will be a noun or a pronoun and will refer back to the subject.

Examples:• Ms. Musynske is my

English teacher.

• The winner of the award is he.

• The boy was captain of the team.

Predicate Adjectives

• An adjective which follows a linking verb is called a predicate adjective.– Examples:

The chili tasted spicy.

Her eyes are blue.

Predicate Nominative or Pred. Adjective??

• The snow is deep.

• He became a successful lawyer.

• She seems nervous.• He will be the president of the

junior class.