What is a Subject Complement? (Definition, Examples, Grammar Rules)

What is a subject complement? Don’t you adore it when you find the perfect scarf or necklace to complete your look? What if you went to dinner, enjoyed a delicious meal, and then ordered a dessert that completely elevated the experience? When things like that happen, isn’t it wonderful? The jewelry or scarf has enhanced the attire, and the dessert has enhanced the meal.

A complement completes or ends something else; it improves it. Looking closely at the term complement, you might be reminded of the word “complete.” Similar to how a dessert may improve a meal and an accessory can improve an outfit, a subject complement provides details that make the sentence more complete.

What is a subject complement?

A subject complement (SC) is a phrase or word that follows a linking verb & defines or renames the sentence’s subject. These words or phrases are typically an adjective phrase, noun phrases, or a pronoun. They are known as subjective complements.

In conventional grammar, a predicate nominative or predicate adjective is typically used to identify a subject complement.

Subject Complement (SC) Grammar Rules

Noun phrase subject complement

In a clause or sentence, a noun phrase fulfills the function of the subject complement. Noun/pronoun phrases are sentences that include a noun or pronoun together with any additional modifiers, determinants, or complements.

Example:

• Your bed sheet resembled a flag.
• My father is a cricketer.
• My son is a man of words.

Verb phrases subject complement

Another grammatical structure that fulfills the grammatical function of the subject complement is a verb phrase. Present participle and infinitive forms are used to represent the verb phrase. Verb phrases include a verb, a compliment, a modifier, an infinitive marker, etc.

Example:

• Your weekly duty would be patrolling and guarding borders.
• His impressive feat is ranking first in the ICPC finals.
• My favorite activity is playing guitar.

Adjective phrases subject complement

The adjective phrase is the other grammatical structure that fulfills the grammatical function of the subject complement. Adjective, modifier, or complement-containing phrases are known as adjectival phrases.

Example:

• My food tasted bitter.
• My wife got angry.
• My glass of milk is hot.

Noun clauses as subject complement

Another grammatical structure that fulfills the grammatical function of the subject complement is a noun clause. A clause preceded by a subordinating conjunction makes up a noun clause, referred to as a subordinate clause.

Example:

• The issue was that you declined to stand in the polls.
• The winner of the election would be whoever gets the highest number of votes.
• The issue is that you think you are always right.
• My question is whether you will stand up to the public for an explanation.

Prepositional phrases subject complement

This last grammatical form carries out the subject complement’s grammatical purpose. Prepositional phrases are made up of a preposition followed by a prepositional complement.

Example:

• The coldest part of the night is past midnight.
• The best place to rest is in the bedroom.
• My most favorite part of the game is during the end time.

Linking Verbs and Subject Complements

A verb is a linking verb if it needs a subject complement (SC) to complete the phrase. In the following examples, the subject complement usually identifies or describes the person or thing the subject denotes.

What does a subject complement do?

A subject supplement provides more details about the topic. It frequently follows linking verbs, sense verbs (be, seem, smell, and taste), and verbs denoting a change of state (including go, get, and become).

Examples of subject complement

Noun as a subject complement

Tom is a cat.

• “cat” is a noun
• “Cat” renames “Tom”
• “cat” follows the linking verb “is” (to be)
• “cat” is a subject complement

Adjectives as a subject complement

Tom is red.

• “red” is an adjective
• “red” describes “Tom”
•  “red” follows the linking verb “is” (to be)
•  “red” is a subject complement