A complement in sentence pattern is a word, phrase, or clause that is necessary to complete the meaning of a subject, an object, or a verb. It provides additional information about these sentence elements, making the sentence grammatically complete and understandable.
There are two main types of complements:
- Subject Complements: These follow linking verbs (such as is, are, was, were, become, seem) and describe or identify the subject of the sentence.
- Object Complements: These follow a direct object and describe or rename the object.
Subject Complements
Subject complements provide more information about the subject. They are essential for completing the meaning of the sentence when using a linking verb. They can be nouns, pronouns, or adjectives.
- Noun as Subject Complement: She is a doctor. (The noun "doctor" identifies the subject "she.")
- Adjective as Subject Complement: The soup tastes delicious. (The adjective "delicious" describes the subject "soup.")
- Pronoun as Subject Complement: The winner is he. (The pronoun "he" identifies the subject "winner.")
Object Complements
Object complements provide more information about the direct object. They are typically nouns or adjectives that follow the direct object and describe or rename it.
- Noun as Object Complement: They elected him president. (The noun "president" renames the direct object "him.")
- Adjective as Object Complement: She painted the door red. (The adjective "red" describes the direct object "door.")
In essence, a complement is a crucial element in a sentence that completes the meaning of another element (subject or object), thereby contributing to the sentence's overall structure and clarity. Without a complement, the sentence often feels incomplete or grammatically incorrect, especially when using linking verbs or transitive verbs requiring further specification about their objects.
