Subject complement
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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In grammar, a subject complement (also called a predicative complement) or predicative of the subject is a predicative expression that follows a linking verb (copula) and that complements the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it. In the former case, a renaming noun phrase such as a noun or pronoun is called a predicative nominal. An adjective following the copula and describing the subject is called a predicative adjective. In either case the predicative complement in effect mirrors the subject. Subject complements are used with a small class of verbs called linking verbs or copulas, of which be is the most common. Since copulas are stative verbs, subject complements are not affected by any action of the verb. Subject complements are typically not clause arguments, nor are they clause adjuncts.
See also
- Copula (linguistics)
- Disjunctive pronoun
- Disputed English grammar
- English personal pronouns
- Predicate (grammar)
- Predicative expression
