CHAPTER IV
COMPLEMENTS
482. 1. Some verbs have a meaning that is complete in itself. Such a verb needs only a subject. When this has been supplied, we have a sentence, for the mere verb, without any additional word or words, is capable of being a predicate.
- Birds fly.
- Fishes swim.
- The sun shines.
- The moon rose.
- The man scowled.
- The girl laughed.
- The owls hooted.
- The clock ticked.
Verbs of this kind are sometimes called complete verbs, or verbs of complete predication.
2. Other verbs are not, by themselves, capable of serving as predicates. Thus,—
- The Indians killed ——.
- Mr. Harris makes ——.
- Tom is ——.
- The man seemed ——.
These are not sentences, for the predicate of each is unfinished. The verb requires the addition of a substantive or an adjective to complete its sense.
- The Indians killed deer.
- Mr. Harris makes shoes.
- Tom is captain.
- The man seemed sorry.
Verbs of this kind are often called incomplete verbs, or verbs of incomplete predication.
Note. The meaning of the verb determines to which of these classes it belongs. Accordingly, the same verb may belong to the first class in some of its senses and to the second in others (§§ 212–215).
483. A substantive or adjective added to the predicate verb to complete its meaning is called a complement.
Complements are of four kinds,—the direct object, the predicate objective, the predicate nominative, and the predicate adjective.
In the examples in § 482, deer and shoes are direct objects,—the former denoting the receiver of the action, the latter denoting the product; captain is a predicate nominative, denoting the same person as the subject Tom (§ 88, 2); sorry is a predicate adjective describing the subject man.
Complements may, of course, be modified. If they are substantives, they may take adjective modifiers; if adjectives, they may take adverbial modifiers (§§ 464, 494).
484. For convenience, the definitions of the four kinds of complements are here repeated, with examples.
1. THE DIRECT OBJECT
485. Some verbs may be followed by a substantive denoting that which receives the action or is produced by it. These are called transitive verbs. All other verbs are called intransitive.
A substantive that completes the meaning of a transitive verb is called its direct object (§ 100).
The direct object is often called the object complement, or merely the object of the verb.
- Alfred has broken his arm.
- Morse invented the electric telegraph.
- Black foxes command a high price.
- You have accomplished a task of great difficulty.
- Have you lost the dog which your uncle gave you?
- He asked me the news. [Two direct objects (§ 103).]
Most of these objects are modified,—arm by the possessive his; telegraph by the and electric; price by a and high; task by the adjective phrase of great difficulty; dog by the and by the adjective clause which your uncle gave you.
486. A noun clause may be used as the direct object of a verb (§ 386).
- You promised that my coat should be ready to-day.
- The mayor ordered that the street should be closed for three hours.
- I begged that my passport might be returned to me.
For further examples, see §§ 407, 432, 439, 441.
2. THE PREDICATE OBJECTIVE
487. Verbs of choosing, calling, naming, making, and thinking may take two objects referring to the same person or thing.
The first of these is the direct object, and the second, which completes the sense of the predicate, is called a predicate objective (§ 104).
The predicate objective is often called the complementary object or the objective attribute.
- The people have elected Chamberlain governor.
- Peter calls Richard my shadow.
- The court has appointed you the child’s guardian.
- John thinks himself a hero.
488. An adjective may serve as a predicate objective. Thus,—
- I thought your decision hasty.
- I call that answer impertinent.
- The jury found the prisoner guilty.
- Your letter made him joyful.
Care should be taken not to confuse adverbs with adjectives in -ly serving as predicate objectives.
- You called him sickly. [Adjective.]
- You called him early. [Adverb.]
After the passive, a predicate objective becomes a predicate nominative (§ 489).
3. THE PREDICATE NOMINATIVE
489. A substantive standing in the predicate, but describing or defining the subject, agrees with the subject in case and is called a predicate nominative (§ 88, 2).
A predicate nominative is often called a subject complement or an attribute.
The predicate nominative is common after is and other copulative verbs, and after certain transitive verbs in the passive voice.
- Chemistry is a useful science.
- Boston is the capital of Massachusetts.
- Jefferson became President.
- This bird is called a flamingo.
- Mr. Hale was appointed secretary.
- Albert has been chosen captain of the crew.
- You are a friend upon whom I can rely.
In most of the examples, the predicate nominative has one or more modifiers. In the first sentence, science is modified by the two adjectives a and useful; in the second, capital is modified by the adjective phrase of Massachusetts; in the last, friend is modified by the adjective clause upon whom I can rely.
For the distinction between the predicate nominative and the direct object, see § 102.
490. A noun clause may be used as a predicate nominative (§ 386).
- My plan is that the well should be dug to-morrow.
- His intention was that you should remain here.
- The result is that he is bankrupt.
- Ruth’s fear was that the door might be locked.
491. An infinitive may be used as a predicate nominative.
- To hear is to obey.
- My hope was to reach the summit before dark.
- Their plan was to undermine the tower.
- My habit is to rise early.
The infinitive may have a complement or modifiers. In the second and third examples, it takes an object; in the fourth it is modified by an adverb.
4. THE PREDICATE ADJECTIVE
492. An adjective in the predicate belonging to a noun or pronoun in the subject is called a predicate adjective.
A predicate adjective completes the meaning of the predicate verb and is therefore a complement (§ 172, 3.)
Like the predicate nominative, the predicate adjective is common after copulative verbs and after certain transitive verbs in the passive voice (§§ 172, 3; 252).
- John was angry.
- My knife is growing dull.
- The task seemed very easy.
- The report proved false in every particular.
- The boat was thought unsafe.
- The cover was made perfectly tight.
In some of these examples, the predicate adjective has a modifier. In the third, easy is modified by the adverb very; in the fourth, false is modified by the adverbial phrase in every particular; in the last, tight is modified by perfectly.
493. An adjective phrase may be used as a predicate adjective. Thus,—
- Richard was out of health. [Compare: Richard was ill.]
- Rachel seemed in a passion. [Compare: seemed angry.]
- This act is against my interests. [Compare: is harmful to me.]
The adjective phrase may consist of an infinitive with or without the preposition about (§ 319).
- I was about to speak.
- This house is to let.
- I am to sail to-morrow.