1. words that make a sentence more meaningful
Chapter 5 C O M P L E ME N T S
words that make a sentence more meaningful

2. COMPLEMENT A word or word group that COMPLETES the meaning of a VERB
The COMPLEMENT answers a specific question and gives more information
STRATEGY
Find the verb
Ask : verb ….WHAT?
The answer is a complement (noun or pronoun)

3. that word is called the object of the preposition
BE CAREFUL
A complement is never part of a prepositional phrase
that word is called the object of the preposition
An adverb is never a complement
because an adverb answers where, when, why, how (not ‘what’)

4. wallet completes the meaning of the verb found
Examples
My aunt found a wallet.
Verb = found
found WHAT?
wallet
wallet completes the meaning of the verb found

5. Adverbs are NOT complements
The koala chews slowly.
Find the verb= chews
Chews WHAT? NO ANSWER
Chews “how”- slowly = adverb

6. NOT in a prepositional phrases
Hannah is riding to her friend’s house.
Verb= is riding
Is riding WHAT? NO ANSWER
Is riding- where?= to her friends house
house is the object of the preposition ‘house’

7. DIRECT OBJECTS Complete the meaning of a TRANSITIVE VERB
Remember the action passes directly
Tells who or what received the action
DIRECT OBJECTS answer the questions: WHOM or WHAT after the verb

8. EXAMPLES My brother bought a model. Verb= bought
Bought WHAT ?= model
Model is the direct object receiving the action from bought
Corey studied Mother Teresa in history class.
Verb= studied
Studied WHOM?= Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa is the direct object receiving the action from studied

9. Compound Direct Objects
A sentence can have more than one direct object
She needed glue, paint , and decals for her model.
Verb=needed
Needed WHAT? glue, paint, decals
DIRECT OBJECTS cannot follow LINKING VERBS
linking verbs do not show action

10. INDIRECT OBJECTS
A complement that completes the meaning of a TRANSITIVE VERB
Works with a direct object
Indirect objects cannot be in the sentence alone
ANSWERS the questions
To WHOM? For WHOM?
To WHAT? For WHAT?
the action of the verb is done

11. EXAMPLES Verb= bought Bought what?=peanuts
Dad bought himself some peanuts.
Verb= bought
Bought what?=peanuts
Bought peanuts FOR WHOM?= himself
himself= indirect object of the verb bought
Luke sent David a letter.
Verb= sent
sent what?=letter
Sent letter TO WHOM? = David
David = indirect object of the verb sent

12. MORE EXAMPLES I gave that problem some thought. Verb= gave
gave what?=thought
Gave thought TO WHAT? = problem
Problem = indirect object of the verb gave
Mary baked the school a lot of cookies.
Verb= baked
baked what?=cookies
Baked cookies FOR WHAT? = school
school = indirect object of the verb baked

13. COMPOUND INDIRECT OBJECTS
If the word “FOR” is used, the noun or pronoun that follows is in a prepositional phrase , there is NO DIRECT OBJECT
The ship’s captain gave orders to the crew. (prep phrase)
And no indirect object exists
Indirect objects can be compound
Lucy gave Linus and Snoopy a treat.
Gave what? Treat
Gave treat to WHOM? Linus and Snoopy (compound indirect object)

14. SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS
A word or word group IN THE PREDICATE (part of the verb) that identifies or describes the subject.
Connected by a linking verb
Not action verbs
TWO KINDS of subject complements
Predicate Nominative
Predicate Adjective

15. PREDICATE NOMINATIVE
A word or word group in the predicate that IDENTIFIES or REFERS to the subject.
May be a noun, pronoun, or a word that functions as a noun
Connect by a linking verb
EXAMPLE
Seaweed is algae.
Linking verb = is
Algae refers to seaweed
Algae is the predicate nominative
(it renames or identifies seaweed)

16. BE CAREFUL Do not mistake a direct object for a predicate nominative.
Direct objects need action verbs
My brother admired the acrobat.
Predicate nominatives are connected by a linking verb
My brother became an acrobat.

17. PREDICATE NOMINATIVES
Can be compound
Is the shark a fish or a mammal?
Linking verb = is
“fish, mammal” are predicate nominatives
rename shark

18. PREDICATE ADJECTIVE
A word or word group in the predicate that DESCRIBES the subject.
Connected to the subject by a linking verb
EXAMPLES
I was very tired.
Linking verb = was
‘tired’ describes the subject I
The blanket felt soft and fuzzy.
Linking verb = felt
‘soft, fuzzy’ describes the subject blanket (compound)