A complement is an essential group of words required in a sentence to express a complete thought, completing the meaning expressed by the verb.
What is a Complement in English Grammar?
A sentence may contain a noun or pronoun as a subject, and a verb that makes up the predicate. Many sentences, though, require an additional group of words in order to express a complete thought.
Complements of Action Verbs
A complement completes the meaning expressed by the verb.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Direct object | A verb expresses action. The direct object of a verb names the receiver of the action. |
| Transitive verb | Takes a direct object, and shows the doer of the action in the subject and a receiver of the action, the direct object, in the predicate. |
| Intransitive verb | Any verb that does not take a direct object. |
| Indirect object | Tells whom the action is directed to or for whom the action is performed. Some verbs that express action take two objects, a direct and an indirect object. |
Transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their action, whereas intransitive verbs do not take a direct object.
Examples of Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
| Verb type | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Transitive verb | The old man embraced his long lost son. |
| Intransitive verb | The old man smiled warmly. |
Complements of Linking Verbs
It is not only action verbs that have complements. Linking verbs require complements, as these cannot make complete predicates. For example, the linking verb is requires some additional word or words to express a complete predicate. That word can be:
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Key Takeaways
- A complement is a group of words required to express a complete thought in a sentence.
- Action verbs can take direct objects, indirect objects, or remain intransitive without a direct object.
- Linking verbs require complements such as predicate nouns, predicate pronouns, or predicate adjectives.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding, then tap Show answer. You can also share your answers in the comments below.
- Identify the direct object in the sentence: “The old man embraced his long lost son.”
Show answer
son — his long lost son receives the action of the verb embraced. - What type of complement follows a linking verb like “is”?
Show answer
A predicate noun, predicate pronoun, or predicate adjective. — these complete the predicate of a linking verb.
Frequently Asked Questions About Complements
What is a complement in a sentence?
A complement is an additional group of words required by a verb in order to express a complete thought and complete the predicate.
What is the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs regarding complements?
A transitive verb takes a direct object as a complement, whereas an intransitive verb does not take a direct object.
Do linking verbs take complements?
Yes, linking verbs require complements such as a predicate noun, predicate pronoun, or predicate adjective to make complete predicates.
More Lessons to Try
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