Subject complements make sentences a lot more informational. It is mostly found in sentence structures such as SVC and SVCA. Learn more about what a subject complement is and how they are used in sentences in this article. You can also go through the numerous examples given to have a better understanding of the same.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Subject Complement? – Meaning and Definition
- Identifying and Using Subject Complements in Sentences
- Examples of Subject Complements
- Check Your Understanding of Subject Complements
- Frequently Asked Questions on Subject Complements in English Grammar
What Is a Subject Complement? – Meaning and Definition
A subject complement is a noun, noun phrase, adjective or adjective phrase that provides the readers with more information about the subject in the sentence. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics defines a subject complement as “an adjective or noun or noun phrase which is linked to a subject by a copula or copular verb”. According to the Collins Dictionary, a subject complement is “a word or a group of words, usually functioning as an adjective or noun, that is used in the predicate following a copula and describes or is identified with the subject of the sentence, as sleepy in The travellers became sleepy”.
As you went through the two definitions, you would have noticed two terms, ‘copula’ and ‘copular verbs’, which might be new to you. If that is the case, you need to learn what they refer to before we move on to the usage of subject complements in sentences.
What Is a Copula/Copular Verb?
The term ‘copula’ refers to the verb that links the subject and the complement in a sentence. Copular verbs are intransitive verbs (verbs that do not require an object). They include verbs such as am, is, are, was, were, become, sense, smell, seem, feel, smile, laugh, cry, sneeze, run, sit, work, talk, yell, appear, disappear, arrive, leave, read and so on. In a sentence such as Hagrid is tall, the word ‘is’ is the copula that connects the subject ‘Hagrid’ and the complement ‘tall’.
Identifying and Using Subject Complements in Sentences
It has already been discussed that nouns, noun phrases, adjectives and adjective phrases can be used as complements. One way to identify subject complements is by checking if they belong to any of these four categories. However, there is another way too – subject complements can be describing words, words that mention a name (proper noun), a position or a profession.
Subject complements are found in sentence structures such as SVC, ASVC and SVCA. They occur immediately after the verb. Read through the following examples to understand how they are used in sentences.
Examples of Subject Complements
Given below are examples of sentences with subject complements. Check them out.
Nouns as Subject Complements
- This is Shehnaz.
- My brother’s name is Ashish.
- ‘Feel’ and ‘seem’ are copular verbs.
Noun Phrases as Subject Complements
- Usha is a teacher.
- My father was the chief commissioner.
- Jared became a writer.
Adjectives as Subject Complements
- The food smells great.
- Mithra was upset yesterday.
- Yesterday’s dinner was sumptuous.
Adjective Phrases and Compound Adjectives as Subject Complements
- Our building is three-storeyed.
- Karishma looks younger than ever.
- That was the biggest piece.
Check Your Understanding of Subject Complements
Go through the following sentences and find out if the underlined words/phrases are objects or complements.
1. Jibi was totally stunned.
2. The new trainer seems nice.
3. I will bring the stationery for the project.
4. The parrot was friendly.
5. Preetha’s son is a cybersecurity expert.
6. The can is empty.
7. They bought a house.
8. The setting and the costumes for the play look a little out of place.
9. The door of the cabin was kept open.
10. I need a cup of coffee.
Here are the answers to the above practice exercise.
1. Jibi was totally stunned.– Complement
2. The new trainer seems nice. – Complement
3. I will bring the stationery for the project. – Object
4. The parrot was friendly. – Complement
5. Preetha’s son is a cybersecurity expert. – Complement
6. The can is empty. – Complement
7. They bought a house. – Object
8. The setting and the costumes for the play look a little out of place. – Complement
9. The door of the cabin was kept open. – Complement
10. I need a cup of coffee. – Object
Frequently Asked Questions on Subject Complements in English Grammar
What is a subject complement?
A subject complement is a noun, noun phrase, adjective or adjective phrase that provides the readers with more information about the subject in the sentence.
What is the definition of a subject complement?
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics defines a subject complement as “an adjective or noun or noun phrase which is linked to a subject by a copula or copular verb”. According to the Collins Dictionary, a subject complement is “a word or a group of words, usually functioning as an adjective or noun, that is used in the predicate following a copula and describes or is identified with the subject of the sentence, as sleepy in The travellers became sleepy”.
Give 10 examples of subject complements.
- I am a teacher.
- That bench is broken.
- Everything was fine last week.
- The song you performed for your school’s annual day was mesmerising.
- The math problem looked simple initially.
- We were early, but Derrick was late.
- Iniya is the newly appointed class leader.
- Manisha looks pretty in that red dress.
- Salvia was completely silent.
- The little boy lookedd comfortable in his chair.
