SUBJECT SUBSTANTIVE; PREDICATE VERB

EXERCISE 20

35

1. This man

2. James

(1) Tell whether each of the following sentences lacks the subject substantive or the predicate verb, and complete the sense by supplying an appropriate word :

my friend. home yesterday.

that?

in New York often.

5. Whose book

6. I

(2) Separate the complete subject of the following sentences from the complete predicate, then point out the subject substantive and the predicate verb:

Model for written exercise:

The little boy looked up and began to smile.

1. The news came too late.

2. We live in deeds, not years.

3. The groves were God's first temples.
4. The darkest hour is just before dawn.
5. Honor and shame from no condition rise.
6. Be still, sad heart, and cease repining.
7. Oh, what a goodly outside falsehood hath.
8. The clouds are at play in the azure space.

9. Profanity never did any man the least good.

10. Nature fits all her children with something to do.

(3) Find ten additional sentences, separate the complete subject from the complete predicate, point out the subject substantive and the predicate verb, and bring these sentences to the class.

(4) Write a paragraph describing something that has recently attracted your attention, then separate the complete subject of each sentence from the complete predicate and point out in each case the subject substantive.

CHAPTER IV

COMPLEMENTS

29. Complement Defined. Some verbs within themselves form a complete predication.

Note these

A verb that within itself forms a complete predication is called a complete verb.

A complete verb is a verb that within itself forms a complete predication.

Other verbs within themselves do not form a complete predication but need an additional word to complete their meaning. Note these examples:

Sometimes a group of words is used to complete the predicate verb; thus,

We want to go home.

I know what you want.

A word or a group of words used to complete the predicate verb is called a complement, a term meaning "that which fills out."

A complement is a word or a group of words used to complete the predicate verb.

30. Caution. - Adverbs and complements are not to be confounded. An adverb modifies the verb; a complement completes the verb. An adverb tells when, where, how, how much, why, or the like; a complement generally tells what.

Complete verbs often take adverbial modifiers: as, You talk fast; He sings well; We rose early.

Some verbs are either complete or incomplete according to their use, hence may take either adverbs or complements; thus,

He writes often. (Adverb.)

He writes letters. (Complement.)

EXERCISE 21

(1) Supply an appropriate complement after such of the following verbs as are not complete :

1. My father has. 2. Longfellow was. 3. They retreated. 4. The rose smells.

5. The boys saw.

6. Only one remains.
7. The horses became.
8. That man seems.
9. Yes, we understand.
10. All the girls went.

(2) Tell whether the italicized words are adverbs or

complements:

1. He grew fast.
2. He grew potatoes.
3. She teaches well.
4. She teaches music.

5. He studies French.

6. He studies hard.

7. She writes stories.

8. She writes often.

9. They returned early.

10. They returned the money.

Cousin and white complete the predicate verb. Cousin tells who the boy is, or explains the subject. White tells the color of the house, or describes the subject.

For additional examples, note how the following italicized words complete the predicate verb and explain or describe the subject:

Sometimes a group of words is used to complete the predicate verb and to explain or describe the subject. Note these examples:

My purpose is to be there. (Subject explained.)

Your life is what you make it.

(Subject explained.)

All of the boys felt out of place. (Subject described.)

A word or a group of words used to complete the predicate verb and to explain or describe the subject is called a subjective complement.*

A verb used to join, or link, the subject with a subjective complement is called a linking verb.

* The Joint Committee on Grammatical Nomenclature recommends the terms Predicate Nominative and Predicate Adjective instead of the term Subjective Complement.

A subjective complement is a word or a group of words used to complete the predicate verb and to explain or describe the subject.

A linking verb is a verb used to join the subject with a subjective complement.

A linking verb is often called a copulative verb.

The following are the most common linking verbs: (1) the different forms of be· am, art, is, are, was, were, etc.; (2) become; (3) get, grow, seem, appear, look, feel, taste, smell, remain, continue, and the like.

A subjective complement is also used after such verb-phrases as be made, be chosen, be elected, be named, be called: as, He was made captain; He is called great.

The subjective complement may be a noun, as It is John; or a pronoun, as It was I; or an adjective, as He is well.

EXERCISE 22

(1) Supply an appropriate word as subjective complement and tell of what part of speech it is:

(2) Point out the subjective complements and tell of

what part of speech each one is :

1. She is my friend.
2. They became rich.
3. His name is Brown.
4. You are fortunate.
5. He remained loyal.
6. James is a Senior.

7. He grew very tall.

8. The moon was full.

9. They are schoolmates.
10. Alice looks very happy.
11. It was not they.
12. The cloth feels rough.