Subject ?Verb ?Complement
By Mark McDowell, M.A.
(eslwideworld.com)
The
predicate can essentially be divided into a verb and complement, giving a
sentence three basic parts.?The complement
is usually considered to be either a direct object, indirect and direct object,
subject complement, or direct object and object complement.?However for ESL purposes it best to use the
broader definition that it is anything after the verb that completes the
meaning of the sentence.?The three-part
sentence approach is very helpful to students for maintaining proper word
order.?
|
Subject |
Predicate |
|
|
Verb |
Complement |
|
|
John type 1 |
objected. (verb
intransitive) |
none |
|
|
||
|
John type2 |
threw |
the ball. (d.o.)
direct object (noun or pronoun) The
direct object receives the action of the verb. |
|
|
||
|
John type 3 |
threw (transitive
verb) |
Bob (i.o.) the
ball (d.o.). indirect and direct object (nouns
or pronouns) |
|
|
||
|
John type 4 |
became (linking
verb) |
a doctor. (p.n.) predicate nominative (noun or pronoun)?The predicate nominative renames the
subject. |
|
John type 5 |
became (linking
verb) |
angry. (p.a.) predicate adjective (adjective)?The predicate adjective describes/modifies
the subject. |
|
|
|
|
|
John type 5 |
named (transitive
verb) |
his dog (d.o.) spot (o.c.). object complement (noun, pronoun,
or adjective)?The object complement describes
or renames the object. |
Linking verbs are: the “be verbs?lt;/b>: be, been, will be, is, are, was, were, have, has, had; sense
words: looks, smells, feels, tastes,
sounds; and: might, become, appear,
remain, and seem.