Although some sentences are complete with only a subject and a predicate, many others need something else to complete their meaning. These additional parts of a sentence are called complements, and English has five types: direct object, object complement, indirect object, predicate adjective, and predicate nominative. Predicate adjectives and predicate nominatives are considered subject complements.

Direct Objects

One type of complement used with a transitive verb is a direct object: the word or words that receive the action of the verb. Direct objects are nouns (usually), pronouns (sometimes), or noun clauses (rarely). You can find a direct object by applying this formula:

• First, find the subject of the sentence.

• Second, find the verb, and make sure it's transitive.

• Third, say the subject and predicate, and then ask whom? or what? If a word answers either of those questions, it's a direct object.

All of this sounds more complicated than it is. Look at this sentence:

You can find the subject (boy) and the verb (dribbled), so all you do is say boy dribbled whom or what? The word that answers that question (basketball) is the direct object. Easy enough, huh?

Object Complements

Another kind of complement used with a transitive verb is an object (objective) complement; it elaborates on or gives a fuller meaning to a direct object. Object complements can be nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. Take a look at this sentence:

In this sentence the direct object is Marie (Helen and Ruth asked whom or what? Marie.), and the noun sister is the object complement. Object complements that act in this way — that is, they elaborate on the direct object — are nouns or pronouns.

Object complements can also be adjectives. Look at this sentence:

In this sentence the direct object is fingernails (both painted whom or what? fingernails), and the adjective blue is the object complement. Object complements that act in this way — that is, they describe the direct object — are adjectives.

Indirect Objects

The third type of complement used with a transitive verb is an indirect object. It comes before a direct object and answers the question to whom? or for whom? after the subject and verb. An easy formula for finding an indirect object is this:

• First, find the subject of the sentence.

• Second, find the transitive verb.

• Third, say the subject and the predicate, and then ask to whom? or for whom? If a word answers that question, it's an indirect object.

Look at this example:

In this sentence, the subject is Drew and the verb is gave. Using the formula of asking to whom? or for whom? after the subject and verb, you would say Drew gave to whom? The answer is Courtney.

Subject Complements

Other kinds of complements, called subject complements, are used only with linking verbs. (Linking verbs, you'll remember, are all forms of be and, in certain situations, appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, smell, sound, stay, and taste.) Subject complements do just what their name implies — they complete (give you more information about) the subject. Predicate adjectives and predicate nominatives are the two types of subject complements.

Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective is an adjective that comes after a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence. To find a predicate adjective, apply this formula:

• First, make sure the sentence has a linking verb.

• Second, find the subject of the sentence.

• Third, say the subject, say the linking verb, and then ask what? If a word answers the question what? and is an adjective, then you have a predicate adjective.

Here's an example of a predicate adjective:

Apply the formula for this sentence: (1) you know that are is a linking verb; (2) you find members as the subject of the sentence; (3) you say members are what? Since intelligent answers that question, and intelligent is an adjective, then you know that intelligent is a predicate adjective.

Predicate Nominatives

The other type of subject complement is the predicate nominative (predicate noun). It also comes after a linking verb and gives you more information about the subject. Here's a formula for finding a predicate nominative:

• First, make sure the sentence has a linking verb.

• Second, find the subject of the sentence.

• Third, say the subject, say the linking verb, and then ask who? or what? If a word answers the question who? or what? and is a noun or pronoun, you have a predicate nominative.

Look at this sentence:

Apply the formula for this sentence: (1) you know that is is a linking verb; (2) you find man as the subject of the sentence; (3) you say man is who? Since DeShawn answers that question, and DeShawn is a noun (it names a person), then you know that DeShawn is a predicate nominative.