Verb Complements

 Some verbs can stand alone in a sentence, and the sentence will still make sense.  Jim runs.  Sally ate.  Bill cried.

 Yet, there are quite a few verbs that can’t stand alone. Most of the time, these verbs need another word or phrase to make the sentence complete.  Jim bought. [What?]  Sally gave [What?]  Bill threw. [What?]

 A noun or a pronoun that receives the action of a verb is called the direct object.  An action verb in combination with a direct object will often make the sentence complete.  Jim bought candles [candles is the direct object]  Sally gave four dollars to the Salvation Army. [dollars is the direct object]  Bill threw the ball. [ball is the direct object].  Bill threw it. [it is a direct object]

o Remember that that there is a clear difference between a subject and direct object. A direct object receives the action, whereas the subject is performing the action [where an action verb is involved].

o Indirect objects answer the question to what or for whom the action is completed. An indirect object always comes before the direct object.  I lent Sally my tools.  I cooked Bob a nice dinner I lent Sally my tools.

Predicate Adjectives  Predicate Adjectives are adjectives that follow a linking verb and describe the verb’s subject.  Examples:  The airplanes were loud.  Subject= airplanes linking verb= were predicate adjective= loud

Sentence Pattern  Subject  linking verb  PA  Sam was anxious. (Anxious describes Sam)  The girls are goofy. (Goofy describes the girls)  I am sleepy. (Sleepy describes me.)

Sentence Pattern  Subject  linking verb  PA  Sam was anxious. (Anxious describes Sam)  The girls are goofy. (Goofy describes the girls)  I am sleepy. (Sleepy describes me.)