Complements play a vital role in English grammar, allowing us to provide further information about subjects, objects, verbs, and adverbial phrases. Understanding these different types of complements can greatly enhance your communication skills and make your sentences more comprehensive and impactful. So let’s dive deeper to explore the role and usages of complements.
Subject complements: meaning, role and usages
Subject Complement: Subject complements are words or phrases that follow a linking verb and provide additional information about the subject. They can be either adjectives or nouns.
For example, in the sentence ‘He is a talented actor,’ ‘talented actor’ is the subject complement that describes the subject ‘he.’
Examples of subject complements
- He is a cricket player. (phrase)
- Tiger is very powerful animal.
- She is a singer.(noun phrase)
- The dog is in the garden.
- They are in front of my house.
Object complement: meaning, role and usages
Object Complement: Object complements, on the other hand, follow the direct object of a sentence and provide more information about it. They can also be adjectives or nouns. Consider this sentence:
For example, ‘She found the painting breathtaking.’ Here, ‘breathtaking’ is the object complement that enhances the direct object ‘painting.’
Examples of object complement
- Teacher noticed students playing in the classroom (object complement)
- Gardner found boy stealing mangoes.
- People termed leader incapable for them.
Verb complement: meaning, role and usages
Verb Complement: Verb complements, also known as verb phrases, consist of a main verb and an additional verb or word that complements the main verb’s meaning. They can be infinitives, gerunds, or clauses.
Direct and indirect objects are also called verb complements as they provide complete meaning for verb.
- Tom plants a tree.
- Harry gives his sister a plant.
In the above examples, “a tree and his sister a plant” are objects provide information to action in the sentences.
For example, in the sentence ‘I love to swim,’ ‘to swim’ acts as the verb complement to ‘love.’
- He plays to join national team.
- She studies to become a doctor.
In the above examples, “to join national team & to become a doctor” are called verb complements.
Adverbial complement: meaning and examples
Adverbial Complement: Adverbial complements modify verbs and provide more detailed information about how, when, where, or why an action happens. They often consist of adverbs or prepositional phrases.
In the sentence ‘He drove the car carefully,’ ‘carefully’ is the adverbial complement that describes how the action of driving was performed.
- River is flowing through the vast flood plain. (adverbial complements)
- Government is considering a new law in the winter session. (object complements or adjunct)
- They were shouting in the forest. (adverbial)
The role and usages of Complements for Powerful Sentences
Now that you have a grasp of the different types of complements, let’s explore how you can use them to construct impactful sentences.
1. Emphasizing Attributes:
Subject complements allow you to highlight specific attributes of the subject, providing a more vivid and engaging description. For instance, instead of saying ‘She is tired,’ you can say ‘She is exhausted,’ emphasizing the intensity of the fatigue.
Similarly, object complements enable you to add depth to the direct object, making your sentences more descriptive. Instead of ‘He painted a picture,’ you can say ‘He painted a breathtaking masterpiece,’ conveying a stronger visual image.
2. Expressing Intentions and Desires:
Verb complements are particularly useful for expressing intentions or desires. By using infinitives, gerunds, or clauses as verb complements, you can convey your aspirations or what you’d like to do.
For example, instead of ‘I want to go,’ you can say ‘I want to explore new horizons,’ expressing a broader sense of curiosity and adventure.
3. Adding Context and Detail:
Adverbial complements allow you to provide more context and detail about an action, enhancing the overall clarity of your sentences. By using adverbs or prepositional phrases, you can specify how, when, where, or why something happened.
For instance, instead of ‘She sings beautifully,’ you can say ‘She sings with breathtaking grace,’ offering more insight into her singing style.
Last words on the role and usages of complements
By understanding the role and usage of complements in English grammar, you can unlock your full potential as a communicator. Complements not only make your sentences more engaging and descriptive but also enable you to express your intentions, desires, and provide a clearer context for your actions.
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