Complements Overview
A complement is a word or words in the predicate that complete the meaning of the
subject and the verb.
Ex:
Spike won the Best of Breed in the dog show.
Spike won the award for Most Talkative Student.
Spike won the lottery.
A direct object answers What? or Whom? after an action verb. Remember transitive
verbs transfer energy to a direct object.
(Tells who or what receives the action of the verb)
Ex:
Jack and Jill carried a pail.
Ms. Goldfish teachers middle school students.
An indirect object answers To what or whom? or For what or whom? after an action
verb
Ex:
Davis loaned me his book.
Becky got her family tickets for the play.
An object complement is a noun or adjective object required by certain verbs
Ex:
You drive me crazy.
We elected Bill treasurer.
A subject complement is:
A predicate adjective follows a linking verb; modifies the subject
Ex: Ted’s science project is amazing!
A predicate nominative follows a linking verb; refers to the subject
Ex: Ted’s science project is the effect of heat on ants.