Subject complements vs Object complements

Understanding the difference between subject complements and object complements is crucial for grasping sentence structure. Here’s a clear explanation:

Subject complements

• Definition
  • A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject of the sentence.  This will complete the meaning of the clause.
  • Linking verbs (e.g., “be,” “become,” “seem,” “appear,” “feel,” “taste”) connect the subject to the complement.  
• Function
  • It provides additional information about the subject.  
  • It essentially completes the meaning of the subject.  
• Examples
  • “She is a teacher.” (“teacher” renames the subject “she”)
  • “The soup tastes delicious.” (“delicious” describes the subject “soup”)  
  • “He became tired.” (“tired” describes the subject “He”)  

Object complements

• Definition
  • An object complement is a word or phrase that follows a direct object and describes or renames it.  
  • It provides additional information about the direct object.  
• Function
  • It completes the meaning of the direct object.  
  • It tells us something more about the state or condition of the direct object.  
• Examples
  • “They painted the walls blue.” (“blue” describes the direct object “walls”)  
  • “We elected him president.” (“president” renames the direct object “him”)
  • “She made him happy.” (“happy” describes the direct object “him”)

Key differences summarized

• Subject complements
  • Modify or rename the subject.  
  • Follow linking verbs.  
• Object complements
  • Modify or rename the direct object.  
  • Follow direct objects.  

How to use them

• Subject complements
  • Use them after linking verbs to provide essential information about the subject’s state, identity, or characteristics.  
• Object complements
  • Use them after a direct object to clarify or complete the meaning of that object, indicating a result or a state that the object is in.

By recognizing and correctly using subject and object complements, you can construct more precise and informative sentences.