Complements
Predicate Nominatives
Predicate Adjectives
Direct Objects
Indirect Objects
Definitions First …
• Complements are words that
complete the meaning or
action of verbs. There are two
general kinds: subject
complements and objects of
verbs.
• A subject complement is a
word that follows a linking
verb and identifies or describes
the subject.
• A predicate adjective describes
or modifies the subject.
The climb had been difficult.
The explorers felt extremely
miserable.
• A predicate nominative is a noun
or pronoun. It identifies, renames,
or defines its subject.
Mount Everest was their goal.
The trip became a nightmare.
Why It Matters In Writing
• Well-chosen predicate adjectives
and predicate nominatives can
help you create vivid descriptions
and clear definitions. Notice:
• “From the valleys of Nepal and
Tibet, Mount Everest appears a
stormy giant. Its soaring ridges
look so powerful that observers
feel humble. The mountain is at
once beautiful and dreadful.”
–Laura Chaveriat
Let’s Practice …
Directions: Underline predicate nominatives; circle predicate adjectives.
1.
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Its slopes look risky, even to world-class climbers.
Oxygen grows thin beyond the world’s base.
Climbers often become immobile without extra oxygen.
Frequently, frostbite becomes a real problem.
Glaciers are great sources of danger.
Their surfaces stay slippery because of the constant cold.
Mount Everest remains a true test for most climbers.
Let’s Practice …
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Its slopes look risky, even to world-class climbers.
Oxygen grows thin beyond the world’s base.
Climbers often become immobile without extra oxygen.
Frequently, frostbite becomes a real problem.
Glaciers are great sources of danger.
Their surfaces stay slippery because of the constant cold.
Mount Everest remains a true test for most climbers.
Direct Objects
• Action verbs often require complements called
direct objects to complete their meaning.
• A direct object is a word or a group of words
that receives the action of an action verb. It
answers the question what or whom.
The climber caught. (Caught what or whom?)
The climber caught the nylon rope.
Let’s Practice …
• The boy climbed the
mountain.
• The girl baked a cake
for her mom.
• The man gave roses to
his girlfriend.
• The small child ate a
chocolate cookie.
Let’s Practice …
• The boy climbed the
mountain.
• The girl baked a cake
for her mom.
• The man gave roses to
his girlfriend.
• The small child ate a
chocolate cookie.
Indirect Objects
• An indirect object tells to what, to whom, for
what, or for whom an action is done. Verbs
that often take indirect objects include bring,
give, hand, lend, make, send, show, teach, tell,
and write.
The rescue team gives hot food (gives food to
or for whom?)
The rescue team gives the survivors hot food.
Be Sure to Notice …
• An indirect object will always come before a
direct object, never after. It will NEVER
follow a preposition (in which case it would
become a prepositional phrase).
The man gave his girlfriend roses. IO
The man gave roses to his girlfriend. PP
Let’s Practice …
Directions: Underline direct objects; circle indirect objects.
1.
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6.
7.
8.
British surveyors calculated the height of Peak XV.
In 1865 geographers gave Mount Everest its current name.
Irvine lent Mallory a hand in their 1924 expedition.
Unfortunately, a sudden ice storm overcame the explorers.
In 1953, Hillary and Tenzig showed the world their talents.
They conquered the summit of Mount Everest.
On a 1996 expedition fierce blizzards killed eight climbers.
Mount Everest still offers climbers a true challenge.
Let’s Practice …
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
British surveyors calculated the height of Peak XV.
In 1865 geographers gave Mount Everest its current name.
Irvine lent Mallory a hand in their 1924 expedition.
Unfortunately, a sudden ice storm overcame the explorers.
In 1953, Hillary and Tenzig showed the world their talents.
They conquered the summit of Mount Everest.
On a 1996 expedition fierce blizzards killed eight climbers.
Mount Everest still offers climbers a true challenge.
Sentence Patterns
• We will be learning
MANY different
sentence patterns this
year. This in one way of
learning grammar, but more
importantly, it is helpful in
adding more sentence
variety to your writing.
First, we’ll start with the
Basic Sentence Patterns …
Basic Sentence Patterns
S-V
Mark ran.
She sang.
They talked.
S-V-PP
Mark ran to the corner.
She sang at the concert.
They talked until midnight.
S-V-DO
Jane wrote a letter.
Cindy baked a cake.
Peter drew a picture.
S-V-IO-DO
Jane wrote her friend a letter.
Cindy baked her mom a cake.
Peter drew his sister a picture.
S-V-DO-PP
Jane wrote a letter to her friend.
Cindy baked a cake for her mom.
Peter drew a picture for his sister.
S-V-IO-DO-PP
Jane wrote her friend a letter on
Monday.
Cindy baked her mom a cake for her
birthday.
Peter drew his sister a picture for
Christmas.
S-V-PN
Mark is an athlete.
That girl is a freshman.
Mr. Autrey is the principal.
S-V-PA
Gina is thoughtful.
John is tall.
Those twins are identical.