Subject Complements

p. 50 - 51

Subject Complements

Complements are words that complete the meaning or action of verbs.

Complements always come in the predicate of the sentence- after the verb.

Complements follow LINKING VERBS only.

is, am, are, was, were, be, been, beingVerbs that express condition (can be replaced with a form of be): look, seem, become, feel, taste, etc.

Predicate Nominatives

Predicate nominativeNominative = noun.A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that renames, or identifies, the subject.Nominatives appear in the predicate.

Mount Everest was their destination.Verb can be thought of as an equals sign. Both sides are the same item: Everest = destination.

Predicate Adjectives

Predicate adjectives describe or modify the subject. They appear in the predicate of the sentence.

The climb had been difficult.The climbers were exhausted.

Be careful! Not every adjective in the predicate describes the subject.

The climb was an exhausting one.

Prepositional Phrases

Subject complements will not appear in prepositional phrases. Eliminate them.

The best student is hardworking in all classes.

Practice & Apply p. 51 Ex. A

For # 1-5, write the subject complement in each sentence, and identify it as a predicate adjective (PA) or a predicate nominative (PN).