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    The Subject Complement

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    nguyenthikieuvan
    The document defines and provides examples of subject complements. It explains that a subject complement follows a linking verb and provides more information about the subject. It lists common linking verbs as forms of "be", "become", and "seem" and verbs that can be linking or action depending on context. Examples are provided to distinguish subject complements from direct objects. Finally, it notes that subject pronouns should be used as subject complements even when they sound strange.

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    The Subject Complement

    Uploaded by

    nguyenthikieuvan
    242 views2 pages
    The document defines and provides examples of subject complements. It explains that a subject complement follows a linking verb and provides more information about the subject. It lists common linking verbs as forms of "be", "become", and "seem" and verbs that can be linking or action depending on context. Examples are provided to distinguish subject complements from direct objects. Finally, it notes that subject pronouns should be used as subject complements even when they sound strange.

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    The document defines and provides examples of subject complements. It explains that a subject complement follows a linking verb and provides more information about the subject. It lists common linking verbs as forms of "be", "become", and "seem" and verbs that can be linking or action depending on context. Examples are provided to distinguish subject complements from direct objects. Finally, it notes that subject pronouns should be used as subject complements even when they sound strange.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    242 views2 pages

    The Subject Complement

    Uploaded by

    nguyenthikieuvan
    The document defines and provides examples of subject complements. It explains that a subject complement follows a linking verb and provides more information about the subject. It lists common linking verbs as forms of "be", "become", and "seem" and verbs that can be linking or action depending on context. Examples are provided to distinguish subject complements from direct objects. Finally, it notes that subject pronouns should be used as subject complements even when they sound strange.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    The Subject Complement

    Recognize a subject complement when you see one.


    A subject complement is the adjective, noun, orpronoun that follows a linking verb.
    The following verbs are true linking verbs: any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were, has
    been, are being,might have been, etc.], become, and seem. These true linking verbs
    are always linking verbs.
    Then you have a list of verbs that can be
    linking or action:appear, feel, grow, look, prove, remain, smell,sound, taste, and turn. If you
    can substitute any of the verbs on this second list with an equal sign [=] and the sentence still
    makes sense, the verb is almost always linking.
    Read these examples:
    Brandon is a gifted athlete.
    Brandon = subject; is = linking verb; athlete = noun as subject complement.
    It was he who caught the winning touchdown Friday night.
    It = subject; was = linking verb; he = pronoun as subject complement.
    Brandon becomes embarrassed when people compliment his skill.
    Brandon = subject; becomes = linking verb;embarrassed = adjective as subject
    complement.
    Brandon's face will turn red.
    Face = subject; will turn = linking verb; red = adjective as subject complement. [Will
    turn is linking because if you substitute this verb with an equal sign, the sentence still
    makes sense.]

    Don't mistake a subject complement for a direct


    object.
    Only linking verbs can have subject complements. If the verb is action, then the word that
    answers the questionwhat? or who? after the subject + verb is a direct object.
    When Michelle woke up this morning, she felt sick.
    She = subject; felt = linking verb; sick = subject complement. [Felt is linking because if
    you substitute this verb with an equal sign, the sentence still makes sense.]
    Michelle felt her forehead but did not detect a temperature.
    Michelle = subject; felt = action verb. She feltwhat? Forehead = direct object. [Felt is
    action because if you substitute this felt with an equal sign, the sentence does not make
    sense.]

    Use subject pronouns as subject complements.


    The chart below contains subject and object pronouns. Because a subject complement provides
    more information about the subject, use the subject form of the pronouneven when it sounds
    strange.

    Subject Pronouns

    Object Pronouns

    I
    we
    you
    he, she, it
    they
    who

    me
    us
    you
    him, her, it
    them
    whom

    Check out these sample sentences:


    Don't blame Gerard. It was I who woke you from a sound sleep.
    It = subject; was = linking verb; I = subject complement.
    Don't get mad at me! I didn't pull your ponytail! It was he.
    It = subject; was = linking verb; he = subject complement.
    Remember the amazing guitarist I met? This is she.
    This = subject; is = linking verb; she = subject complement.

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