8 Things to Know About the Complement Element in a Clause

1) It expresses meaning which adds to that of another clause element. 

2) It adds to either the subject (subject complement) or the object (object complement).

3) The subject complement usually follows the subject and verb in a clause. The verb is usually a form of be (is, was, etc.) It could be other verbs. As long as it can link the complement meaning with the subject meaning. These are called copular, or linking verbs. For example:

She is a housewife. 

 (S) (V)   (C)

The dog became agitated.

   (S)        (V)         (C)

The painting looks marvellous.

    (S)               (V)     (C)

4) Here is a list of some copular verbs with complements:

appear (sad)

feel (happy)

grow (weary)

remain (still)

seem (agitated)

turn (hot)

5) An object complement usually follows the direct object and its meaning relates to it. For example:

They voted him leader.

He made me happy.

6) All of these can be complements: 

Noun phrases, including single nouns:

John is a chef.          They became movie stars. 

Adjective phrases, including single adjectives:

Joyce is very sad.        The pie is ready.

Pronouns:

This is her.       Where's that?       That's who?

Some subordinate clauses:

That's what I replied. 

7) When the complement is a noun phrase, it has the same number as its corresponding element. For example:

The child is a monster.

The children are monsters.

8) It's the same with the object complement:

I find your child a monster.

I find your children monsters.

The Object Element of a Clause

The object element usually follows the subject and verb in a clause. There are two types of object:

Direct Object

This is usually a person or thing directly affected by the action expressed in the verb:

The fat woman ate a cake. 

       (S)             (V)  (O)d 

I saw Jane.

(S) (V) (O)d

Indirect Object

The indirect object usually refers to an animate being that is the recipient of the action. There is usually a direct object in these clauses also. The indirect object usually comes before the direct object. 

She gave the cat some water. 

(S)    (V)    (O)i        (O)d

I told her my plans.

(S)(V)(O)i   (O)d

What can be an Object?

Noun phrases, including single nouns:

I saw John. We've found a new car.

Pronouns:

John saw me. Now hear this. He did what?

Some subordinate clauses:

John said I'd been foolish.

Verbs

The verb has a central role in the clause and it is rare to omit it from a clause. 

The fish (subject) eats (verb) fish food (object) by the handful (adverbial).

We can remove the adverbial: The fish eats fish food.

The object: The fish eats by the handful.

The subject, in casual style: Eats fish food by the handful. (Pointing at the tank).

But we cannot omit the verb: The fish fish food by the handful. 

However, there are such things as 'verbless' clauses, which I will look at later on. 

Verb Element

Only one verb element is allowed per clause. Sometimes that will just be one verb:

John (subject) went (verb) home (adverbial).

Or multiple verbs working together to form one meaning:

John (subject) has gone (verb) home (adverbial).

Although 'has gone' is two verbs, they work together to express one thing, so they count as one verb element. 

Intransitive Verbs

These are verbs that can be written without an object:

The builder's going. 

Some common intransitive verbs are:

appear

die

digress

fall

go

happen 

lie

matter

rise

wait

Transitive Verbs

Verbs which require an object are traditionally known as transitive verbs. Enjoying is an example:

The builder's enjoying his lunch. 

Some common transitive verbs are:

bring

carry

desire

find

get

keep

like

make

need

use

Some verbs can be used intransitively or transitively. For example:

She's expecting a reply. She's expecting. 

He worked wonders. He worked.

As you can see from the example, what often happens is that the verb changes meaning when used in these different ways. 

Exclamations

These express the extent to which speakers are impressed or aroused by something. The are often short sentences or even one word. Although, they can take the form of major sentences too. 

Their first element begins with what or how, and is followed by a subject and verb, in that order. For example:

What an awful night that was!

What a masterpiece you've made!

How swell she is!

They can offer appear in a reduced form.

What an awful night!

What a masterpiece!

How swell!

Both sets of examples are said to have an exclamative structure. 

It's rare to find an exclamative with the subject and verb inverted, but they do exist. For example:

How often have I cursed that terrible day!

Directives

Directives are sentences which instruct someone to do something. To call them commands is misleading, because commands are one type of directive. 

Here are some examples:

Commanding - Sit down now!

Inviting - Have a drink with me tonight. 

Warning - Mind where you tread.

Pleading - Help me.

Advising - Take the medicine.

Requesting - Open the door, please.

Expressing good wishes - Have a nice day.

In all of these cases, the verb is in it's basic form, with no endings, and there is usually no subject element present. Sentences structured in this way are called imperatives. It is typical for a directive sentence to have an imperative structure. 

Some directives do not use the basic pattern. 

They allow a subject with strong stress - You be quiet! Nobody move! Everyone go!

They begin with let followed by a subject - Let me see. Let us pray. Let's go.

They begin with do or don't - Do come in. Don't laugh. Do not answer. 

Defining a Sentence

Defining a sentence can be a hard thing to do.

Sometimes people say it is 'A complete expression of a single thought', but this can be too vague.

There are sentences that express a single thought but are not complete:

- Nice one, Fred! 

- Horrible Night! 

- Taxi! 

Some sentences are complete and express more than one thought:

- Because it's Sunday, James wants to walk in the park, play on the swings, eat ice cream, and fish in the river.

The formal approach to english grammar looks at the way sentences are constructed - The pattern of the words they contain.

Three things apply to any English sentence:

- It is constructed according to a system of rules known by all the adult mother-tongue speakers of the language. A sentence formed in this way is said to be grammatical. 

- It can stand on its own without feeling incomplete.

- It is the largest construction to which the rules of grammar apply.   

When to Use a Dash

A dash is a mark of separation. It is stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than a parenthesis. 

When he looked at the drink-that was bubbling and churning-he wondered if he should drink it at all.

The parrot made a noise-a wheezing, choking, exasperated cough. 

The bald spot that caught the sun, the hunch in his shoulders, the limp in his walk-all the signs of old age catching up with him. 

Only use a dash when a more common mark of punctuation seems inadequate.