Grammar | SPOCA | Subject and Object Complement

GRAMMAR

SPOCA

The Complement Element:

Generally, the term  Complement refers any sentence elements that completes the predicate. It adds some information about another sentence element, either the Subject or the Object. When the added information is about the Subject, it is called the Subject Complement (Cs) and when it is about the Object, ii is called the Object Complement (Co).

1. A Subject Complement (Cs) as usually follows the subject and verb. The verb is usually a linking verb which is most often a form of  to be (is, was, etc) or one of the copulative)verbs that are able to link the complement meaning with the subject meaning.

 

1.  He is a polyglot.
2.  The bull became angry.
3.  That tune sounds marvelous (i.e. it is marvelous)
4.  This smells nice.

Examples of copula verbs: appear (happy) - feel (annoyed) - grow (tired) - remain (silent) - seem (a fool) - turn (cold) 

2. An Object Complement (Co) follows the Od refers to it. The relationship between the Object and its Complement is parenthetically shown in in these examples: 

1.  They elected him president. (i.e. He is president)
2.  She made me angry. ( i.e. I am angry)

The Complement object should be become the Complement subject by turning the Object into a Subject and inserting a form of to be or a liking verb = i.e.: He has become President / He got angry.

A Complement can be:

 

1. Noun phrases (including single nouns): 

1.  Susan is a journalist. 
2. The twins became doctors.
3.  He was our family lawyer.

2. Adjective phrases (including single adjectives): 

1.  Arthur is very happy.
2.  The car’s ready.
3.  That road is not quite safe.

3. Pronoun: 

1.   This is him.
2.  Where’s that?
3.  That’s who?
4. 
   

4. Some subordinate clauses: 

1.  That’s what I replied. (cf. That’s my reply).
2.  You are what you eat. [(You ) (are what you eat)]

                                                NP-S VP-P finite wh-nominal Cl.-Co

When the complement is a Noun phrase, it agrees in number with its corresponding element.

1. A singular subject requires a singular Cs, and a plural subject requires a plural Cs

1. The child is actually an angel → The children are angels
2. An Orca is a mammal. → Orcas are mammals.

2. A singular Object requires a singular Cs, and a plural Object requires a plural Cs

1. I find your child an angel. → I find your children angels.