Difference between revisions of "Complement (grammar)"
From Hull AWE
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| + | ''(For the commonly confused homophones, see [[compliment - complement]])'' | ||
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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 has"). There may be more than one Object, or Complement, in a Clause. | ||
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| + | 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 Scottishâ€, ‘Scottish’ is the '''Complement''' of ‘is’; in the sentence “This is '''Hull'''â€, ‘Hull’ is the '''complement''' of ‘is’; and ‘Thursday’ is the '''complement''' of ‘is’ in “Today is '''Thursday'''†. | ||
| + | * The '''adjectival Complement''' (.... WRITE ME) | ||
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| + | Other functions may or may not be called Complements, depending on which grammarian you ask: | ||
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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'''". | ||
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| + | * Direct | ||
| + | * Indirect. | ||
Revision as of 15:08, 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. |
(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.
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 Scottishâ€, ‘Scottish’ is the Complement of ‘is’; in the sentence “This is Hullâ€, ‘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".
- Direct
- Indirect.
