Subjective Complements

Subjective Complements :



Complement : (noun) - something which, when added to something else, completes it or makes it perfect

In grammar, a word or phrase (especially a noun or adjective) that follows a verb describes the subject of the verb.

John is old.
John became chairman.
OLD and CHAIRMAN are complements.

A Complement is a thing that goes with something else to complete it. Complement has also a grammatical meaning.

The room was dirty.
The adjective DIRTY is the complement of WAS.

1. January is the first month of the year. (The first month of the year is January.)

2. She is a doctor. (A doctor is she.)

3. It is hot. (The weather is hot.)

4. Lack of money is our biggest problem. (Our biggest problem is lack of money.)

5. Bobby is a cat. (One of the cats is Bobby.)

The first month of the year, a doctor, our biggest problem and a cat - These words add more meaning to the subject. They are used after the verb 'is'.

They are SUBJECTIVE COMPLEMENTS.

1. He became a king at the age of 17.
2. My wife became angry.
3. The weather becomes warmer day by day.
4. My brother became a soldier.
5. After the death of her father, she became the richest women.

A King, angry, warmer, a soldier and the richest woman - These are complements of the verb become (or) became in the above sentences.

1. The building is to let.
2. The cake tastes sweet.
3. The earth is round.
4. My children look healthy.
5. Suseela appears pleased.

To let, sweet, round, healthy and pleased - These are complements in the above sentences. They give more meaning to the subjects.

1. The parents named him Hitler.
   Subject : The parents
   Predicate : named
   Object : him
   Words that give more meaning to the object : Hitler
   
   
   
2. The boys made Latha captain.
   Subject : The boys
   Predicate : made
   Object : Latha
   Words that give more meaning to the object : captain
   
   
   
3. This dress made her pretty.
   Subject : This dress
   Predicate : made
   Object : her
   Words that give more meaning to the object : pretty
   
   
   
4. The magistrate found the accused innocent.
   Subject : The magistrate
   Predicate : found
   Object : the accused
   Words that give more meaning to the object : innocent
   
   
   
5. Mangalam called her husband a liar.
   Subject : Mangalam
   Predicate : called
   Object : her husband
   Words that give more meaning to the object : a liar
   
   
   
6. Daily exercise has made his body smart.
   Subject : Daily exercise
   Predicate : has made
   Object : his body
   Words that give more meaning to the object : smart
   
   
   
7. I do not consider the man trustworthy.
   Subject : I
   Predicate : do not consider
   Object : the man
   Words that give more meaning to the object : trustworthy
   
   
   
8. God called the darkness night.
   Subject : God
   Predicate : called
   Object : the darkness
   Words that give more meaning to the object : night
   
   
   
9. We thought him a great man.
   Subject : We
   Predicate : thought
   Object : him
   Words that give more meaning to the object : a great man
   
   
   
10. The party chose him its leader.
    Subject : The party
    Predicate : chose
    Object : him
    Words that give more meaning to the object : its leader
    
    
    

The complement describes the object and is, therefore, called an OBJECTIVE COMPLEMENT. The complement is listed above. The complement should agree with the object. When the objective complement is a noun, it is in the objective case in agreement with the object.

Subjective Complements

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