Question

Identify the complement to the verb in the following sentence-
The flowers look beautiful.
A) look
B) beautiful
C) look beautiful
D) flowers

Answer 1

Hint: A subject complement indicates an adjective, noun, or a pronoun that is placed after the linking verb. The subject complement plays a major role in describing the subject in the sentence.

Complete answer:
As given in the hint, a ‘subject complement’ is commonly placed after a linking verb or a sense verb (look, see, taste, etc).
Let’s look at the usage of a subject complement-
Example: The table looks dirty. Here, ‘the table’ is the subject, while ‘looks’ is the sense verb or linking verb that links the subject with the subject complement ‘dirty’. ‘Dirty’ is the subject complement as it is used to describe the subject, ‘table’.
In the given question- We can conclude that the given sentence states that ‘the flowers look beautiful’. Here, ‘the flowers’ is the subject, while ‘look’ is the linking verb or the sense verb and ‘beautiful’ is the subject complement as it is used to describe the subject, ‘flowers’.
Now, let’s examine the given options-
Option a- ‘look’ acts as the linking verb or the sense verb that is used to link the subject and the subject complement. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option b- ‘beautiful’ is the subject complement as it is used to describe the subject ‘flowers’ and it is also placed after the linking verb. Hence, it is the correct option.
Option c- ‘look beautiful’ represents the combination of a linking verb and a subject complement. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option d- ‘flowers’ are the subject in the given sentence. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
So, the correct answer is “Option b”.

Note:
It is important to keep in mind that only linking verbs have subject complements. Action verbs only link ‘direct objects’ with the subject.