Sentence Complements

Every sentence is built from two halves. Work through each one, then test it on the line.

A linking verb shows no action. It connects the subject to a word that describes or renames it. Common linking verbs are is, am, are, was, were, seem, become, appear, feel, look, and taste.

A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject. In "The soup is hot," hot describes the soup. It is one kind of subject complement.

A predicate nominative is a noun that follows a linking verb and renames the subject. In "Maya is the captain," captain renames Maya. It is the other kind of subject complement.

After a linking verb, the subject complement either describes the subject (a predicate adjective) or renames it (a predicate nominative). Both complete the subject.