COMPLEMENTS Direct Object Indirect Object Subject Complements Complement

COMPLEMENTS Direct Object, Indirect Object, Subject Complements

Complement � Is a word or groups of words that completes the meaning of a subject and verb � Sometimes a subject and a verb alone can express a complete thought. Example: Birds fly. It can stand alone because it is a complete thought � � However

� in other sentences the thought has to be completed by adding other words � Example: Toni bought What? The eyewitness told What? Richard feels How? All contain a subject and a verb but not a complete thought � �

� A complement is needed to make the words a complete sentence � Complements are usually nouns, pronouns, or adjectives which are located close to the verb � Examples: (subject underlined once, the verb is italicized, and the complement is bolded in black. Toni bought cars. The eyewitness told us the story. Richard feels sad. � � �

Recognizing Direct Objects � Direct Objects are complements used after action verbs � It is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb � Find the direct object by asking the question “Whom” or “What” after an action verb �

� � Examples: The message reached the lawyer. Reached whom? Lawyer Direct objects like subjects and verbs can be compound Mother invited Uncle Bill and Aunt Clara Invited whom? Uncle Bill, Aunt Clara

Let’s try some: Find the Direct Object � 1. In the fourteenth century, Martini, an Italian painter, designed a human propelled carriage on four wheels. � 2. However, the Greeks used wheels and carts as far back as the eighth century B. C. � 3. Henry Ford introduced his first automobile as the “Quadricycle. ” � 4. The name automobile gained acceptance in 1897. Answers on the next slide

� 1. carriage � 2. wheels, carts � 3. automobile � 4. aceptance

How do you distinguish between direct objects, adverbs, and prepositions? � � � Not all Action verbs have direct objects Be careful not to confuse a direct object with a n adverb or an object of the preposition A direct object is never an adverb or the noun or pronoun at the end of a prepositional phrase

Compare the following examples Choose the sentence with the direct object � 1. Joanne drove her car. � 2. Joanne drove quickly. � 3. Joanne drove through the town.

� If you chose the sentence Joanne drove her car, you would be correct. � Joanne drove quickly. -quickly is an adverb � Joanne drove through town. Through town is a prepositional phrase with town being the object of the preposition.

A single sentence can have all three � Identify the parts of speech: � Joanne drove her car quickly through town.

Distinguish between Direct Objects, Prepositions and Adverbs � Try some: Find the direct object, prepositional phrases, or adverbs and label. � 1. A British inventor built a steam automobile in 1801. � 2. This automobile moved rather quickly at twelve miles per hour. � 3. People complained immediately about the automobiles’ noise.

� 4. The speed limit restricted drivers to four miles per hour. � 5. Many countries developed automobiles during this time. � Answers on the next page.

Answers � � � � � 1. automobile-Direct Object in 1801 -prepositional phrase 2. quickly-adverb at twelve miles per hour-Prep Phrase 3. immediately-adverb about the automobiles’ noise- Prep Phrase 4. drivers- Direct Object to four miles per hour- Prep Phrase 5. automobiles- Direct Object during this time- Prep Phrase

What if you need to find the direct object in a question? � In normal word order, the direct object is located after the verb. In questions, which are in inverted order, the direct object may not come after the verb. � A direct object in a question is sometimes located near the beginning of the sentence, before the verb Look at the examples on the next page. �

The subject is underlined, the verb is italicized, and the direct object is bolded and in black. � � � Whom did you ask for help? You did ask whom for help? What does he want from us? He does want what from us? Which car does he want from the dealership? He does want which car from the dealership?

Find the direct object in these questions � 1. Which articles did she read about this experimental vehicle? � 2. What disadvantages did the electric automobile have? � 3. What does he know about the size and reliability of its batteries? � 4. Whom did you see in the automobile museum? � Answers on the next page

Answers � 1. articles � 2. disadvantages � 3. What � 4. Whom

Recognizing Indirect Objects � � Indirect object- another kind of complement A sentence cannot have an indirect object unless it has a direct object Indirect Object- is a noun or pronoun that comes after an action verb and before a direct object An indirect object answers the questions To or Who for?

The subject is underlined, the verb is italicized, direct object bolded dark, and the indirect object is highlighted in red � 1. I told them the story. � Told to whom? Them � � � Keep in mind the pattern Subject + verb+ indirect object + direct object An indirect object will almost always come between the verb and the direct object

Compounds � Like a subject, verb, or direct object, an indirect object can be compound � Dave gave each car and truck a new color.

Identify the simple or compound indirect objects � � � 1. In 1912, twenty companies offered customers electric cars. 2. The internal-combustion engine gave the electric cars new competition. 3. Engineers have given automobile makers plans for internal combustion automobiles. 4. Owners showed neighbors and friends their automobile. 5. However, the automobile often taught the drivers and passengers humility. Answers on the next page

Answers � 1. customers � 2. cars � 3. makers � 4. neighbors, friends � 5. driver, passengers

Distinguishing between Indirect Objects and Objects of Prepositions � Do Not confuse an indirect object with an object of the preposition � AN INDIRECT OBJECT NEVER FOLLOWS “TO OR FOR” in a sentence Compare the following sentences: Father bought him a car. Father bought a car for him. (for him- Prep. Phrase) � � �

Try some-write the indirect object or the object of the preposition � 1. The automobile brought danger for drivers. � 2. Accidents caused town officials great concern. � 3. Towns quickly et low speed limits for motorists. � 4. They soon gave speeders fines. � 5. All motorists have a responsibility to their passengers and other drivers.

Answers � 1. drivers-obj of the prep � 2. officials-indirect obj � 3. motorists- obj of the prep � 4. speeders- indirect obj � 5. passengers, drivers- obj of the prep

Using subject complements � � Subject complementis a noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb and tells something about the subject

Predicate Noun or Predicate Pronoun � Follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject of the sentence � Examples: Ronnie will be the captain of our team. (the predicate noun captain renames the subject Ronnie) � � Ford’s first car was the Model A. (the predicate noun Model A renames the subject car) � The two winners are they. (The predicate pronoun thy renames the subject winners)

Try some-identify the predicate noun or pronoun � 1. Europe was the home of some early automobiles. � 2. Americans quickly became fans of the automobile. � 3. Hartford and Cleveland were the cities in which the American auto industry began. � 4. Many car models were poor designs. � 5. Henry Ford was the man who had financial backing for his invention. �

Answers � 1. home � 2. fans � 3. cities � 4. Designs � 5. man

Predicate Adjectives � A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject of a sentence � It is considered part of a complete predicate of a sentence because it comes after a linking verb. In spite of this a predicate adjective does not modify the words in the predicate. Instead it describes the noun or pronoun that stands for the subject of the sentence.

Examples � 1. The flight to Houston was swift. (The predicate adjective swift describes flight) � 2. The saleswoman seems very sensitive to the needs of her customers. (The predicate adjective sensitive describes the subject saleswoman)

Try some- Identify the predicate adjective � 1. The assembly line was extremely efficient, constructing one car in ninety-three minutes. � 2. However, the assembly line work was unpleasant. � 3. Workers grew tired of the daily monotony and pressure of production quotas. � 4. A monthly laborer turnover of 40 to 60 percent was inescapable. 5. Ford’s plan for doubling the daily wage was smart. �

Answers � 1. efficient � 2. unpleasant � 3. tired � 4. inescapable � 5. smart

Compound Subject Complements � Subject complements can be compound It consists of two or more predicate nouns, predicate pronouns, or predicate adjectives � My two best friends are Phil and Mark. � The highway seems slick and icy. �

Try It-write the compound subject complement-tell whether they are predicate adjectives or predicate nouns � � 1. The Museum of Automobile History in Syracuse, New York, is exciting and interesting to people of all ages. 2. Information on thousands of cars is available and accessible to all visitors. 3. The display of collector’s items is sleek and huge. 4. The museum has become a historic sight and a showroom for classic cars.

Answers � 1. exciting, interesting /predicate adjectives � 2. available, accessible/predicate adjectives � 3. sleek, huge/predicate adjectives � 4. site, showroom/ predicate nouns � 5. attraction, site/ predicate nouns