Complement

A part of sentence that gives more information about the subject, or, in some other structures, about the object.

Subject Complement

Some clauses consist of a subject, the verb be, and an expression that describes the subject.

• She was the first person to arrive.
• He looked tired.
• She is a journalist.
• They were very excited.
• The milk turned sour.

The expression that describes the subject in clauses like these is often called a subject complement. Subject complements can follow not only be, but also other copular verbs like look, seem, turn and become.

Object complement

An object complement is a phrase which follows a direct object and either modifies that object or denotes something identical to it.

• They elected him their leader.
• The jury found him guilty.
• He called me a liar.
• God called the light day.
• You make me nervous.

Words and expressions that complete the meaning of a noun, verb, preposition or adjective are also called complements.

• I am interested in learning to fly.
• She is fond of ice cream.
• The cat is on the roof.
• Let us get a bottle of wine.