Are the following groups of words sentences?

Birds fly.Toni bought.Our mechanic is.Richard feels.

Birds fly can stand by itself as a sentence, but the others begun by a subject and its verb and must be completed with other words. These words are called complements.

Definition of a complement:

A complement is a word or a group of words that completes the meaning of a subject and a verb.

Complements

Complements are usually nouns, pronouns, or adjectives.

They can be found right after or very close to the verb in the sentence.

Can you find the complements within the following sentences?

Toni bought cars.The eyewitness told us the story.Our mechanic is a poet.Richard feels sad.

Types of Complements

Direct ObjectsIndirect ObjectsSubject Complements

Direct Objects

Direct objects are complements that are used after action verbs.

Definition: A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb.

A direct object can be found by asking Whom? Or What? After an action verb.

Example: The message reached the lawyer. Question you ask yourself: Reached whom? Answer: Lawyer.

Direct Objects like subjects and verbs can be compound.

Example:Mother invited Uncle Bill and Aunt Clara.

Question you ask yourself: Invited whom? Answer: Unce Bill, Aunt, Clara

Assignment:

Pg. 417Exercise 32.

(Only write the direct objects; do not copy the sentence.)

Distinguishing Between Direct Objects, Adverbs, and Objects of Prepositions

Word after the verb

Direct Object Adverb Object of Preposition

Examples:

Joan drove her car.Joan drove quickly.Joan drove through the town.Joan drove her car quickly through the

town.

Assignment:

Pg. 418

Exercise 33.(You must write the complete sentence)

Just like in statements, questions word order is inverted. Therefore, the position of a direct

object in a sentence may change. In question, sometimes the direct object is near the

beginning of the sentence, before the verb.

Inverted Word Order for Questions

Normal Word Order: You did ask who for

help. He does want what

from us. He does want which car from the dealership.

Questions Whom did you ask for

help? What does he want

from us? Which car does he

want from the dealership?

HINT!*In essence, if you are having trouble finding the direct object in a question rephrase the sentence in normal word order, as shown in

the previous examples.

Assignment:

Pg. 419Exercise 34.

(Only write the direct objects; do not copy the sentence.)

Indirect Objects

If there is a direct object within a sentence, there may also be another type of complement called an indirect object.

Definition: An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that comes after an action verb and before a direct object. It names the person or thing to which something is given or for which something is done.

An indirect object answer the question To whom or for whom? Or To what or for what? after an action verb. (You must find the direct object first, then ask the question.)

For Example:

I told them the story.

Question you ask: Told to whom?

Answer: them.

Pattern

Subject ----Verb----Indirect Object----Direct Object

Like a subject, verb, or direct object, and indirect object can be compound.

Example:Dave gave each car and truck a new color.

Question to ask yourself: to what?Answer: car, truck.

Assignment:

Pg. 420Exercise 35.

(Only write the indirect objects; do not copy the sentence.)

Do not confuse and indirect object and Objects of Prepositions.

Indirect Object NEVER follows to or for

in a sentence. Example: Father

bought him a car.

Objects of Prepositions Example: Father

bought a car for him.

Assignment:

Pg. 421

Exercise 36.(You must write the complete sentence)

Subject Complements

Linking verbs have a different type of complement than action verbs (direct and indirect objects) which is called a subject complement.

Definition: A subject complement is a noun, a pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb and tells something about the subject.

Three Types of Subject Complements

Subject Complements

Predicate Noun-Follows a linking verb

and renames or identifiesthe subject.

Predicate Pronoun-Follows a linking verb

and renames or identifiesthe subject.

Predicate Adjective-Follows a linking verb

And describes the subject of the sentence.

Examples:

Example of Predicate Noun- Ronnie will be captain of our team.

Example of Predicate Pronoun- The two winners are they.

Example of Predicate Adjective- The flight to Houston was swift.

A Compound subject complement consists of two or more predicate nouns, pronouns, or

adjectives.

Example:

My two best friends are Phil and Mark.

Assignment:

Pgs. 423 and 424

Exercises 37, 38, and 39.