What Is a Subject Complement? (With Examples)
| Sentence | Linking Verb | Subject Complement | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| The soup smells delicious. | smells | delicious | Adjective |
| The new teacher is Mrs. Brown. | is | Mrs. Brown | Noun |
| My friends are happy. | are | happy | Adjective |
| The best player was he. | was | he | Pronoun |
What is a Subject Complement?
A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and tells something more about the subject. It can identify, rename, or describe the subject. Subject complements are especially important in sentences with linking verbs like "is," "are," "seem," "feel," and "become."
Types of Subject Complements
There are three main types of subject complements: predicate nouns, predicate adjectives, and predicate pronouns. Each type gives different information about the subject.
Predicate Noun (or Predicate Nominative)
A predicate noun names or identifies the subject. It usually comes after linking verbs such as "is," "are," "was," and "were."
- Example: My father is a doctor. ("doctor" renames "father")
- Example: That animal was a lion. ("lion" renames "animal")
Predicate Adjective
A predicate adjective describes the subject. It tells what the subject is like or how it feels.
- Example: The sky looks blue. ("blue" describes "sky")
- Example: The food is tasty. ("tasty" describes "food")
Predicate Pronoun
A predicate pronoun is a pronoun used as a subject complement. It normally follows verbs like "is" or "was." In formal English, use the subjective case (he, she, I).
- Example: It was she who called. ("she" refers to "it")
- Example: The winner is he. ("he" refers to "winner")
Subject Complement vs. Direct Object
Students often confuse subject complements with direct objects. Remember, a subject complement follows a linking verb and gives more information about the subject. A direct object receives the action of an action verb.
| Sentence | Verb Type | What Follows | Is it a Subject Complement? |
|---|---|---|---|
| The soup tastes delicious. | Linking Verb | delicious (about soup) | Yes |
| The cook tastes the soup. | Action Verb | the soup (receives action) | No (Direct Object) |
Subject Complement vs. Adverb
A subject complement tells about the subject, while an adverb describes how the action happens. Linking verbs are followed by subject complements, not adverbs. Watch for commonly confused sentences:
- Correct: She feels happy. ("happy" is a subject complement)
- Incorrect: She feels happily. ("happily" is an adverb; doesn’t describe "she")
Subject Complement vs. Object Complement
A subject complement gives more information about the subject after a linking verb. An object complement gives more information about an object after an action verb.
| Type | Example Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Subject Complement | Her dress is beautiful. | "beautiful" describes "Her dress" |
| Object Complement | They painted the wall green. | "green" describes "wall" (object) |
How to Identify Subject Complements in Sentences
- Find the linking verb ("is," "are," "was," "become," etc.).
- Check what comes after the verb.
- See if it renames or describes the subject.
- If yes, it is a subject complement.
Practice with sentences: "The winner is Rahul." (Rahul = subject complement, renames winner). "This cake tastes sweet." ("sweet" describes cake; subject complement).
More Subject Complement Examples
- This question is easy.
- Rohit became a pilot.
- The garden looks wonderful.
- Your friends seem excited.
- The leader was she.
- The idea sounds interesting.
- The answer is correct.
- The problem became bigger.
- The dog is mine.
- The story was true.
Practice Sentences: Find the Subject Complement
Can you spot the subject complement in each sentence?
- This book is helpful.
- My brother became a doctor.
- Her smile looks genuine.
- The best player was he.
- The plan seems perfect.
Why Are Subject Complements Important?
Subject complements appear in exams and writing tasks. They help you build clear, correct sentences. Mastery of subject complements also improves spoken English and helps you avoid common grammar errors. At Vedantu, we focus on such core grammar topics to boost confidence in all English learners.
Related Grammar Resources
- Subject and Predicate
- Linking, Intransitive, and Transitive Verbs
- Predicate Adjective
- Predicate Noun (Noun Phrase)
- Types of Sentences
- Direct and Indirect Speech: Rules and Examples
- Order of Words in a Sentence
- Parts of Speech
- Predicate Structure in English Grammar
- Basics of Grammar
- Clauses
To sum up, a subject complement follows a linking verb and gives important details about the subject. It can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective. Learning this topic with definitions, tables, and examples will help you in exams, writing, and everyday English. For more grammar guides, visit Vedantu’s English grammar resources.
FAQs on Subject Complement: Meaning, Types & Examples in English Grammar
1. What is a subject complement in English with examples?
A subject complement completes the meaning of the subject by renaming or describing it, following a linking verb. Examples include: She is happy (adjective); He is a doctor (noun); The winner was she (pronoun).
2. What are the main types of subject complements?
Subject complements can be predicate adjectives (describing the subject), predicate nouns (renaming the subject), or predicate pronouns (re-identifying the subject). Each type helps clarify the subject's attributes.
3. How can I identify a subject complement in a sentence?
Look for a linking verb (like is, are, was, were, seems, becomes, etc.) connecting the subject to a word or phrase that renames or describes it. That word or phrase is the subject complement. For example, in "She is a teacher," "teacher" is the subject complement.
4. What is the difference between a subject complement and a direct object?
A subject complement describes or identifies the subject and follows a linking verb, while a direct object receives the action of a transitive verb. In "She is a doctor," "doctor" is a subject complement; in "She wrote a letter," "letter" is a direct object.
5. What are common linking verbs used before subject complements?
Common linking verbs include is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being, seem, appear, become, remain, stay, feel, look, smell, taste, sound. These verbs don't show action; they connect the subject to its complement.
6. Can a pronoun serve as a subject complement?
Yes, a pronoun can act as a subject complement, re-identifying the subject. For example: The winner was he. Here, "he" is the subject complement.
7. What is subject complement with example?
A subject complement is a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject of a sentence, following a linking verb. Examples: The cake is delicious (adjective); He is the winner (noun); It is I (pronoun).
8. How do you know if a sentence has a subject complement?
A sentence has a subject complement if it contains a linking verb followed by a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject. Look for verbs that don't express action, but connect the subject to a descriptive or identifying element.
9. What are 5 examples of a subject complement?
Here are five examples of subject complements: 1. She is intelligent (adjective); 2. He became a doctor (noun); 3. The problem is it (pronoun); 4. They seem happy (adjective); 5. The answer is yes (noun).
10. What are 5 examples of object complements?
Object complements modify or rename the direct object. Here are five examples: 1. They elected her president; 2. We painted the house blue; 3. They named the baby Lily; 4. The teacher considered him brilliant; 5. We found the movie boring.
11. What is the difference between subject complement and object complement?
A subject complement describes or renames the subject and follows a linking verb. An object complement describes or renames the direct object and follows the direct object.
12. Subject complement vs direct object?
The key difference lies in the verb type and what is being described. A subject complement follows a linking verb and describes the subject (e.g., "He is a teacher"). A direct object receives the action of a transitive verb (e.g., "He teaches English").
