Complements

Definition

Complements are elements in a sentence that complete the meaning of a predicate, often providing necessary information about the subject or object. They can take various forms, such as noun phrases, adjective phrases, or clauses, and are essential for clarifying the relationship between different parts of a sentence, especially in phrases and syntactic structures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Complements are necessary for some verbs to express complete thoughts; for example, in 'She considers him a genius,' 'a genius' is a complement that completes the verb's meaning.
2. They can be categorized into subject complements and object complements, with subject complements providing information about the subject and object complements doing the same for the object.
3. In syntactic trees, complements typically appear under the verb or adjective they complete, illustrating their role in the structure of the sentence.
4. Unlike adjuncts, which provide optional additional information, complements are required for grammatical correctness in certain contexts.
5. Complements can include clauses as well; for instance, in 'We believe that he will win,' the clause 'that he will win' acts as a complement to the verb 'believe.'

Review Questions

• How do complements differ from adjuncts in terms of their role in sentence structure?
  • Complements differ from adjuncts primarily in their necessity for conveying complete meanings in sentences. Complements are essential elements that complete the thought expressed by predicates, whereas adjuncts provide optional additional information. For example, in the sentence 'He is a doctor,' 'a doctor' is a complement necessary to understand who he is, while 'in New York' could be an adjunct giving extra context without changing the core meaning.
• Discuss how complements function within syntactic trees and their importance in understanding sentence structure.
  • In syntactic trees, complements are positioned directly beneath the verbs or adjectives they complete. This placement reflects their integral role in conveying meaning within sentences. For instance, if you have a tree representing 'She considers him intelligent,' 'him intelligent' would show how both elements serve to clarify the verb 'considers.' Understanding this structure helps grasp how sentences are built and how different elements interact to convey specific meanings.
• Evaluate the significance of recognizing complements when analyzing complex sentences and their overall impact on comprehension.
  • Recognizing complements is crucial when analyzing complex sentences because they directly affect meaning and clarity. For example, without identifying complements, one might misunderstand relationships between subjects and verbs. In a sentence like 'They elected him president,' failing to recognize 'president' as a complement could lead to confusion about what was elected. Therefore, understanding complements enhances comprehension by allowing readers to accurately interpret how different components of a sentence relate and interact.

Related terms

adjuncts:

Optional elements in a sentence that add extra information but are not necessary to complete its meaning.

predicates: The part of a sentence or clause that tells what the subject does or is, usually consisting of a verb and any complements or modifiers.

noun phrases: Groups of words that function together as a noun within a sentence, often serving as subjects, objects, or complements.