A complement is a word or a phrase which modifies a subject, object, or verb.
Complements come after the verbs and make the sentence complete. The four most important
types of complement are:
Subject Complements
Subject complements follow linking verbs and are adjectives or nouns that rename, define, or describe the subject in some way.
The doctor was a an famous pediatrician.
XXX(Pediatrician is a subject complement which renames doctor)
Object Complements
Object complements are nouns or adjectives that follow direct objects and modify or refer to them.
Ellen bought her mother a bracelet embedded with sapphires.
XXX(Bracelet is the direct object and – embedded with sapphires- is the object complement referring to
XXXbracelet)
Verb Complements
Verb complements are the direct or indirect objects of a verb.
My father-in-law bought my wife and me a new house as a wedding present.
XXX(The direct objectis house and the indirect object is wife and me)
Adjective Complements
Adjective complements are groups of words that modify adjectives.
Eddy was reluctant to tell his father about his accident.
Other links for Complements
XX Types of Complements
XX Complements
XX Subject Complement
XXX(The adjective complement-to tell- modifies the
For more information about complements takes a look at
An explanation of the different types of complements: subject, verb, adjective and object complements– www.understandinggrammar.com