What Is a Subject Complement?
Just like an object complement provides additional information about the object in a sentence, a subject complement identifies and describes the subject in a sentence. Subject complements can be words, phrases, or clauses that give extra details about the subject.
Types of Subject Complements
Subject complements can be noun phrases, adjective phrases, verb phrases, or prepositional phrases, an important factor during grammar checks.
Noun Phrase Subject Complement
A noun phrase is a word or group of words that function as a noun. Noun phrases that provide extra information about the main subject of a sentence function as subject complements. Below are some examples:
- Robert is a man of virtue.
- My daughter is an investment banker.
- John will be remembered for his sense of humor.
- Your husband resembles my brother.
The italicized phrases—man of virtue, investment banker, remembered for his sense of humor, my brother—in the sentences above are noun phrases that provide further information about the subjects—Robert, daughter, John, husband—making them subject complements.
Adjective Phrase Subject Complement
An adjectival phrase is a word or group of words that function like an adjective when put together. Adjective phrases that describe the main subject of a sentence function as subject complements. Below are some examples:
- Darren is always full of life.
- The movie was mind-blowing!
- Janet is very talkative.
- Elaine is a calm and quiet person.
The italicized phrases—full of life, mind-blowing, talkative, calm and quiet person—in the sentences above are adjective phrases that provide further information about the subjects—Darren, movie, Janet, Elaine—making them subject complements.
Verb Phrase Subject Complement
Verb phrases are words or groups of words that together function as a verb. Verb phrases that describe the action being performed by the main subject of a sentence function as subject complements. Below are some examples:
- I will be going to the hospital tomorrow.
- George and his family are going on a vacation.
- I will be getting my driver’s license renewed next month.
- The police are working on the Wayne murder case.
The italicized phrases—going to the hospital tomorrow, going on a vacation, getting my driver’s license renewed next month, working on the Wayne murder case—in the sentences above are verb phrases that provide further information about the subjects—I, George, I, police—making them subject complements.
Prepositional Phrase Subject Complement
Prepositional phrases are words or groups of words that function like a preposition. Prepositional phrases that provide context about the main subject in a sentence function as subject complements. Below are some examples:
- Amanda will be available between 9 am to 3 pm.
- George is in the living room.
- The candy jar is on the third shelf.
- The valley lies beyond the mountain.
The italicized phrases—between 9 am to 3 pm, in the living room, on the third shelf, beyond the mountain—in the sentences above are prepositional phrases that provide further information about the subjects—Amanda, George, candy jar, valley—making them subject complements.
Subject complements add details that provide context and are therefore important to make sense of a sentence. Also using a grammar checker can help identify and ensure the correct usage of subject complements in writing
