Difference between revisions of "Complement (grammar)"

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''(For the commonly confused homophones, see [[compliment - complement]])''
 
''(For the commonly confused homophones, see [[compliment - complement]])''
  
In [[grammar]], a '''complement''' is that which '''completes''' a [[sentence]]. For some sentences, Subject + Verb is enough ("John runs"), for others, we instinctively feel that something more is required ("John has"). There may be more than one Object, or Complement, in a Clause.
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In [[grammar]], a '''complement''' is that which '''completes''' a [[sentence]]. For some sentences, Subject + Verb is enough ("John runs"), for others, we instinctively feel that something more is required ("John built" -- we want to ask "what?"). There may be more than one Object, or Complement, in a Clause.
  
 
Traditionally, the only functions called Complements were the copular or adjectival Complement:
 
Traditionally, the only functions called Complements were the copular or adjectival Complement:
* The '''copular Complement''' follows the [[verb]] '[[to be]]' (this verb is called the ''copula''). For example, in the sentence “She is Scottish”, ‘Scottish’ is the '''Complement''' of ‘is’; in the sentence “This is '''Hull'''”, ‘Hull’ is the '''complement''' of ‘is’; and ‘Thursday’ is the '''complement''' of ‘is’ in “Today is '''Thursday'''” .  
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* The '''copular Complement''' follows the [[verb]] '[[to be]]' (this verb is called the ''copula'') or similar verbs like 'to become'. For example, in the sentence “She is Scottish”, ‘Scottish’ is the Complement of ‘is’; in the sentence “This is '''Hull'''”, ‘Hull’ is the '''complement''' of ‘is’; and ‘Thursday’ is the '''complement''' of ‘is’ in “Today is '''Thursday'''” .  
 
*  The '''adjectival Complement''' (.... WRITE ME)
 
*  The '''adjectival Complement''' (.... WRITE ME)
  
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* The '''prepositional complement''' is the name given to the [[noun]] or [[noun phrase]] that follows a [[preposition]], such as "in '''town'''", "at '''work'''", or "the pen of '''my aunt'''".
 
* The '''prepositional complement''' is the name given to the [[noun]] or [[noun phrase]] that follows a [[preposition]], such as "in '''town'''", "at '''work'''", or "the pen of '''my aunt'''".
  
* Direct  
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* The '''Direct Object''' (in traditional Grammar called just the '''Object''') completes verbs by identifying what or whom they are 'done to' or performed on. Examples: "they built '''a house'''"; "Parliament passes '''laws'''"; "she made '''a mistake'''"; "I like '''him'''"; "she drives '''a Mercedes'''"; "we thought '''brown''', but we chose '''blue'''"; etc. Verbs that require this are called [[transitive]].
* Indirect.
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*  
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Some verbs seem, at first sight, to have two Objects - she gave '''him '''(1) '''a book''' (2); we wish '''you''' (1)''' a happy birthday '''(2); the mother sang '''her baby '''(1) '''a lullaby '''(2); tell '''me''' (1) '''a story (2)'''; etc.
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When we look at these more closely, we can see that the two kinds of Object are different. We don't 'sing a baby' in the same way that we 'sing a song'. All the Objects marked (1) in these examples can be replaced by a Preposition Phrase with '''to''' or '''for '''(she gave a book '''to him'''; we wish a happy birthday '''for you'''; the mother sang a lullaby '''to her baby'''; tell a story '''to me'''). These Objects (1) are called '''Indirect Objects'''. (They are never called just 'Objects'.)  An Indirect Object is rarely used without a Direct Object in the same sentence: we don't 'give him' unless we say <u>what</u> it is that we gave to him (though in spoken English, at least, we can say 'tell me'). (''Note that the two Objects can be in the reverse order, ''(2) (1), ''e.g. ''I am writing it for you'';'' King Lear gave his kingdom to his daughters''. Here the Indirect Object is usually a Preposition Phrase.'')
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'' Some modern grammarians say that the Complement also includes the two Objects. They call the Complement to a copular verb the Complement (C); they call the Direct Object the Complement (Object Direct) (CO''<sub>''d</sub>''''); and they call the Indirect Object the CO''<sub>''i</sub>''''. It seems easier, as well as more traditional, to use the three terms separately.''
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''Some verbs - '''Intransitive verbs''' - do not have Objects. These are verbs such as '''to go''', '''to come''' and most verbs of motion, as well as other verbs. They are verbs which talk of actions that the Subject does, but does not do to anyone or anything. Examples: I''''m going'''; she '''was talking'''; the dog '''barked'''; etc.

Revision as of 14:19, 20 April 2007

This article is part of the grammar course.

You may choose to follow it in a structured way, or read each item separately.

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(For the commonly confused homophones, see compliment - complement)

In grammar, a complement is that which completes a sentence. For some sentences, Subject + Verb is enough ("John runs"), for others, we instinctively feel that something more is required ("John built" -- we want to ask "what?"). There may be more than one Object, or Complement, in a Clause.

Traditionally, the only functions called Complements were the copular or adjectival Complement:

  • The copular Complement follows the verb 'to be' (this verb is called the copula) or similar verbs like 'to become'. For example, in the sentence “She is Scottish”, ‘Scottish’ is the Complement of ‘is’; in the sentence “This is Hull”, ‘Hull’ is the complement of ‘is’; and ‘Thursday’ is the complement of ‘is’ in “Today is Thursday” .
  • The adjectival Complement (.... WRITE ME)

Other functions may or may not be called Complements, depending on which grammarian you ask:

  • The prepositional complement is the name given to the noun or noun phrase that follows a preposition, such as "in town", "at work", or "the pen of my aunt".
  • The Direct Object (in traditional Grammar called just the Object) completes verbs by identifying what or whom they are 'done to' or performed on. Examples: "they built a house"; "Parliament passes laws"; "she made a mistake"; "I like him"; "she drives a Mercedes"; "we thought brown, but we chose blue"; etc. Verbs that require this are called transitive.


Some verbs seem, at first sight, to have two Objects - she gave him (1) a book (2); we wish you (1) a happy birthday (2); the mother sang her baby (1) a lullaby (2); tell me (1) a story (2); etc.

When we look at these more closely, we can see that the two kinds of Object are different. We don't 'sing a baby' in the same way that we 'sing a song'. All the Objects marked (1) in these examples can be replaced by a Preposition Phrase with to or for (she gave a book to him; we wish a happy birthday for you; the mother sang a lullaby to her baby; tell a story to me). These Objects (1) are called Indirect Objects. (They are never called just 'Objects'.) An Indirect Object is rarely used without a Direct Object in the same sentence: we don't 'give him' unless we say what it is that we gave to him (though in spoken English, at least, we can say 'tell me'). (Note that the two Objects can be in the reverse order, (2) (1), e.g. I am writing it for you; King Lear gave his kingdom to his daughters. Here the Indirect Object is usually a Preposition Phrase.)

Some modern grammarians say that the Complement also includes the two Objects. They call the Complement to a copular verb the Complement (C); they call the Direct Object the Complement (Object Direct) (COd'); and they call the Indirect Object the COi'. It seems easier, as well as more traditional, to use the three terms separately.

Some verbs - Intransitive verbs - do not have Objects. These are verbs such as to go, to come and most verbs of motion, as well as other verbs. They are verbs which talk of actions that the Subject does, but does not do to anyone or anything. Examples: I'm going; she was talking; the dog barked; etc.