Subject complement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The subject complement is the word (with any accompanying phrase) or clause that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it. The former, a renaming noun (or sometimes a pronoun), is technically called a predicate noun or predicate nominative (or in some cases, a predicate pronoun). The latter, a describing adjective, is called a predicate adjective.
[edit] Examples
Examples of sentences with subject complements:
The lake was a tranquil pool.
"Was" is a linking verb which links the subject complement (predicate noun modified by an adjective) "tranquil pool" to the subject "lake."
The lake is tranquil.
"Tranquil" is a predicate adjective linked through the verb "is." [1]
It is I.
"I" is a predicate pronoun linked to the subject "It" through the verb "is". In traditional correct English, a predicate pronoun should be in the subjective case (or nominative in other languages), but in modern colloquial English usage the objective case is often used (example: It is me).
[edit] References
 |
This syntax-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
