COMPLEMENTS

A complement is a word or group of words that says something about the subject or object of a sentence. A complement is always a noun or an adjective.

a) Subject Complement says something about the subject of the sentence, for example what the subject is or what it is like:

Example:

- I am a handsome man.

- She was so tired after working all day in the garden.

- Three years later he became a good teacher.

- Her daughter seems very happy in her new job.

- They felt really stupid when they saw what they had done.

NOTE:

Ø A word or a group of words can be a subject complement even if there is not expressed subject in the sentence (the case with imperative sentences).

Example:

- Don’t be so silly!

- Please stay calm.

Ø In exclamatory sentences, the subject complement often precedes the subject and verb rather than following them.

Example:

- What a lovely day it is!

- How stupid you are!

b) Object Complement says something about the direct object of a sentence:

Example:

- They made him chairman.

- Someday I will prove you wrong.

- We always thought her very reliable.

- They’ve painted the walls green.

- They always call me William.

NOTE: It is important to distinguish between sentences containing a direct object and an indirect object and sentences with a direct object and an object complement.

Ø A direct object and an object complement refer to the same person or thing:

Example:

- They elected Mr. Vannak chairman.

- The government appointed Mr. Hong Udom the provincial governor.

Ø A direct object and an indirect object refer to two different people or things:

Example:

- She lent me her new pen.

- Did you show her the photos?