Subject Complement
Phonetics:
sʌbdʒɪkt
kɒmplɪment
Pronunciation:
Subject Complements Decoded
Comprehensive Definition, Description, Examples & RulesÂ
Introduction
A subject complement is a group of words or a single word. An adjective, a pronoun, or a noun phrase can be used as a subject complement to describe or rename the main subject of the sentence. It follows the linking verb and adds more meaning to the main subject.
Significance
The importance of a subject complement in English grammar is:
- It helps add more information meaning to the sentence’s subject.
- You can easily define the subject of the sentence with the help of a new word or a phrase.
- If you use subject complements in your sentences it will improve your writing style and quality.
Definition of Subject Complement
You can define it as a word or a phrase that follows the linking verb of your sentence. It describes or adds more meaning to the subject of your sentence. If you want to modify the subject of your sentence, you can easily use a subject complement.Â
Role
The subject complement has a role to play in English grammar. It includes:
- It has an essential part in the structure of a sentence and makes it more meaningful.
- Defining the sentence’s subject is very important to make the sentence look good.
The subject complement directly relates to the subject of the sentence as it provides further information about the subject. It makes it very easy for the reader to identify the subject of the sentence if there is a subject complement.Â
Types of Subject Complements
Two types of subject complement in English grammar have great significance. These are:
- Predicate Nominative (that is, the noun)
- Predicate Adjective
The details of both these types are:
Predicate Nominative
A predicate nominative is the noun form of a subject complement that comes after the linking verb of the sentence and has a similarity with the subject of the sentence. The function of a predicate nominative is to rename the subject of the sentence and add more meaning to the sentence and its subject.
Examples of predicate nominative are:
- The man is working in the garden (‘The Man’ is the subject, and ‘is working in the garden’ is the predicate nominative ‘)
- My elder brother serves in the Navy. (‘My elder brother ‘ is the subject, and ‘serves in the navy’ is the predicate nominative)
As you can see, using the predicate nominative is to maintain the sentence’s structure and define the sentence’s primary subject.
Predicate Adjective
Predicate adjectives are subject complement that is the type of adjectives that modify and describe the subject of the sentence or any clause. The function of a predicate adjective is to change the subject and connect it with the linking verb of the sentence.Â
The examples of predicate adjectives are:
- Ponting looks beautiful. (‘Ponting’ is the subject, ‘looks’ is the linking verb ‘beautiful’ is the predicate adjective)
- The song sounds melodious ( ‘The song ‘ is the subject, ‘sounds’ is the linking verb ‘melodious’ is the predicate adjective)
As you can see, the function of the predicate adjective is to describe the subject of the sentence and make it more meaningful.
Examples of Subject Complements
Various sentences use a subject complement; you will understand their usage correctly if you see them. The subject complement example includes:
- Susan is running in the field. (Predicate Nominative)
- He is trying to study in the library. (Predicate Nominative)
- She is reading in the hall. (Predicate Nominative)
- The bat seems hard. (Predicate Adjective)
- The dog seems afraid Predicate Adjective)
- The cake looks tasty (Predicate Adjective)
These are a few examples that will help you understand a subject complement.Â
Subject complements greatly enhance the sentence’s meaning and define the subject of the sentence. Using the subject complement, you can get descriptive information about the sentence’s subject. It will help you define the subject and make the sentence more meaningful and understandable.
Subject Complements vs. Direct Objects
Basic differences exist between a subject complement and a sentence’s direct object. A subject complement is an adjective, a noun, or a phrase that defines the sentence’s subject. On the other hand, a direct object is a noun that indicates ‘what’ or ‘who’ is receiving the action of the sentence’s primary verb.
The primary function of a subject complement is to provide necessary information about the subject of the sentence and make the sentence more meaningful and understandable. A direct object also adds more meaning to the sentence but answers ‘who’ or ‘what’ and receives the action of the sentence’s verb. Examples to help you are:
- The dress looks tight. (Subject Complement)
- The students are eating pastries. (Direct Object)
Subject Complements in Different Tenses and Verb Forms
You can use a subject complement for different verb tenses and forms. You can use the subject complements for each tense: the past, present, or future, and define the primary subject of the sentence equally. The tense of the linking verb of the sentence will determine the tense of the subject complement of the sentence.
The examples of subject complement with different tenses are:
- Present: He is playing on the field.
- Past: The coffee seemed sweet.
- Future: He will recite in the play.
Subject Complements and Linking Verbs
The subject complement has a good relationship with the linking verb of the sentence as it comes after the linking verb and defines the subject of the sentence. The subject complement and the linking verb have a significant part to play in defining the subject of the sentence. The linking verbs used with subject complements are: ‘be’, ‘seems, ‘looks’, ‘becomes’, ‘are’, ‘was’, and more.
These verbs are used to link the subject of the sentence to the verb of the sentence and make it appropriate for the readers. The functioning of the sentence’s subject complement depends upon the sentence’s linking verb.
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Key Takeaways
- Subject complement helps to add more meaning to the sentence.
- You can use them to make the sentence more effective.
- You need to use the subject-verb agreement properly in your sentence.
- Use the linking verbs to link the subject and its complement.
Quiz
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Frequently Asked Questions
The subject complement has a direct relationship with the subject of the sentence. It helps add more meaning to the subject of the sentence and directly defines the subject. The subject complement helps to make the sentence more meaningful by defining the exact action of the subject.
Various sentences use subject complements, and a few examples for you are:
- I am swimming in the pool. (Predicate Nominative)
- She is going to the park. (Predicate Nominative)
- Zendaya looks gorgeous. (Predicate Adjective)
- The water feels warm. (Predicate Adjective)
These are a few examples of subject complements and how to use them in sentences.Â
The linking verbs link the subject of the sentence with its subject complement. The linking verbs include:
- Seems
- Looks
- Be
- Am
- Was
- Is
- Become
These are a few linking verbs that add to the subject complement of the sentence, and there are more for you to choose from in your sentence.Â
No, the subject complements won’t occur in the clauses that contain an action verb. The subject complement can only appear as a noun, adjective, or pronoun. Apart from that, it is not an adverb or an action verb in the sentence.Â
You don’t need to use a subject complement for all your sentences, but a basic structure of the sentence starts with the subject, then the linking verb, and finally, the subject complement. If you do not want to use a subject complement for your sentence, the appropriate thing for you is to use the direct object. If you avoid using the subject complement, you must use an object complement for your sentence.
The subject-verb agreement is essential when using the subject complement of the sentence. If the subject of the sentence is in singular form, then the subject complement must also be in singular form or vice versa. You need to understand the subject-verb agreement before making any decisions, as messing up the subject-verb agreement will cause a wrong sentence structure for your sentence.Â
