A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning begun by the subject or verb.

Five kinds: direct objects (DO), object complements (OC), indirect objects (IO), predicate nominatives (PN, and predicate adjectives (PA).

Three are affected by the action of the verb.

Predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives are both called subject complements.

The direct object receives the action expressed by the verb or names the result of the action.

Examples:1. She drank the soda.2. I signed the check.

The object complement completes a reference and/or an implication suggested by the direct object of the clause. Object complements are most usually noun phrases or adjective phrases.

Examples 1. They elected her leader.

2. We find this music pleasant.

Indirect objects precede the direct object and tell to whom or what or for whom or what the action of the verb is done.

Examples:1. My mom gave me a present.2. Bob sent us the memo on Thursday.

I bought that skirt for her.

I gave those shoes to him.

What is the subject, the verb, the direct object and the indirect object?

I bought that skirt for her.

subject

verb directobject

indirectobject

I gave those shoes to him.

subject

verb directobject

indirectobject

A subject complement is a word which follows a linking verb and refers to (renames or describes) the subject.

Two kinds: predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives

Indirect object pronouns tell to whom the action is being done.

They mean the same thing in English as do the direct object pronouns, only they add the words “to or for”. For example, “to you, for me, ect.”