Grammar-Quizzes › Clauses › Clause Structure › Subject–Predicate–Complement
SUBJECT | PREDICATE / PREDICATOR | COMPLEMENT |
---|---|---|
The subject is the cause, agent, person or thing doing the action (or undergoing the action in passive voice). It usually takes form as a noun phrase with a head noun, a determiner and possibly some modifiers. It may also take form as a phrase or a clause. (See examples in the sections below.) |
The predicate is the action or change in state. It is realized as a verb or a verb group that may include a modal or one or more auxiliaries. A predicate is also called predicator to distinguish it from the traditional meaning as one of two sentence parts—subject or predicate. |
A complement an element or elements required by a word or structure to complete its meaning in the clause. It may be a direct object (He gave a gift.), an indirect object (He gave me a gift.), a predicative complement (He is good.) or some other element. See Complements below. |
SUBJECT | PREDICATE | COMPLEMENT |
N / NP / WH-PHRASE / NONFINITE / FINITE CLAUSE | AUX / V | N / NP / ADJ / PHRASE / CLAUSE |
Charlie (N–proper noun) |
rose. |
(none required) |
The boy (NP–noun w/modifiers) |
raised |
his hand. (DO) direct object |
My little boy (NP) |
gave |
me (IO) indirect object his hand. (DO) |
He (PRN–pronoun) |
is / seems static verbs
|
happy. (Adj) |
Being enthusiastic (Ger CLS¹) |
is
|
his best quality. (NP) |
The boy (N) |
raised (VP)
|
his hand (NP) (complement to verb) in the air. (PP complements verb and "the air" (NP) complements preposition.) |
That he is so enthusiastic (CLS) |
surprises
|
us. (PRN) |
He (PRN) |
really thinks (VP)
|
that he is ready to continue. (CLS) |
rise (V) – intransitive; does not take an object.
raise (V) – transitive; requires an object.
¹gerund clause – traditionally this was called gerund phrase or infinitive phrase because the structure was not a complete sentence. However, in current description gerunds (and infinitives) are categorized as nonfinite clauses ("reduced clauses"). The term "phrase" is reserved for NP–noun phrase, VP–verb phrase, AdjP–adjective phrase, AdvP–adverb phrase, PP–Prepositional Phrase. See Phrase.
N – noun / pronoun; NP – noun phrase (the girls, the little girl, the girl who won)
V – verb; VP – verb phrase (enjoys very much, hardly ever rests)
Adj – adjective; AdjP – adjective phrase (really sharp, rather expensive)
Adv – adverb; AdvP – adverb phrase (very slowly, much too quickly)
P – preposition; PP – prepositional phrase
Det – determiners—articles | quantifiers | demonstratives | possessives
The subject may take form as:
In general, one-word modifiers (adjectives) are placed before the noun.
MODIFIER | MODIFIER | HEAD NOUN |
---|---|---|
ADV | ADJ / NP | N |
Exceptionally, very (Degree Adv) |
clever, enthusiastic, cheerful, eager, helpful, honest, curious, cooperative, humorous |
Charlie |
|
Six-year-old, self-starter, independent-learner, fun-loving, know-it-all, bright-eyed |
|
|
Junior, Master, Mister, Chef, Captain, Officer |
In general, modifying phrases and clauses are placed after the noun.
NOUN MARKER | HEAD NOUN | MODIFIER |
---|---|---|
DETERMINER | NOUN | NP / ADJ / PP / NONFINITE / CLAUSE |
The only / youngest / smartest |
child |
present (Adjectives after the noun are rare.) |
A / another |
his age / his size |
|
The / this / that |
in kindergarten |
|
Each / every / one |
starting kindergarten |
|
Such a clever |
placed in kindergarten |
|
Whichever |
who does well in kindergarten |
|
Up to six / Around six / Between four and six |
children |
in the class |
Head noun – the head noun is the main noun. It is distinguished from other nouns which may function as modifiers or as parts of other phrases.
Pre-head modifiers are placed before the noun. Post-head modifiers are placed after the noun.
A prepositional phrase may function as a determiner phrase in a noun phrase in the subject position. ([Just under] the rug is the place where we keep the key.) (Huddleston 7 §5.3) (See Preposition Uses.)
(Huddleston "The subject" 4 §3, "Complements vs adjuncts" §1.2, "Complements vs modifiers" 5 §14) (Swan "Sentence Structure" 509)
The predicate takes form as:
HEAD NOUN | AUXILIARY | AUXILIARY | AUXILIARY | VERB |
---|---|---|---|---|
N / NP | MODAL | HAVE | BE | |
Charlie |
|
|
|
raises (3rd p. sing.) |
|
|
|
raised (past form) |
|
will |
|
|
raise (plain form) |
|
will |
|
be |
raising (pres. participle) |
|
|
has |
|
raised (past. participle) |
|
|
has |
been |
raising |
|
will |
have |
|
raised |
Also see Verb (primary—tense formed by inflection), Verb Group (secondary—tense formed by auxiliary).
AUXILIARY ⇒ NEXT FORM TYPE | PRES / (FUTURE) | PAST | PERFECT |
---|---|---|---|
MODAL ⇒ PLAIN FORM |
Charlie will ⇒ raise his hand. |
Charlie would ⇒ raise his hand. |
Charlie would ⇒ have raised his hand. |
PERFECT ⇒ PAST PARTICIPLE |
Charlie has ⇒ raised his hand. |
Charlie had ⇒ raised his hand. |
Charlie had ⇒ raised his hand. (same as past) |
PROGRESSIVE ⇒ GERUND-PARTICIPLE |
Charlie is ⇒ raising his hand. |
Charlie was ⇒ raising his hand. |
Charlie has been ⇒ raising his hand. |
PASSIVE ⇒ PAST PARTICIPLE |
His hand is ⇒raised. |
His hand was ⇒raised |
Charlie's hand had been ⇒raised. |
The subject, here, includes a noun phrase expressing the person, thing, concept (entity) that undergoes or experiences a change in state.
The predicate includes a static verb, which expresses a state of being or a change in state (be, seem, act, looks, appear, become, get).
The predicate complement completes the meaning expressed by the subject and predicate (verb) with one of the following:
SUBJECT | PREDICATE – STATIC VERB | PREDICATIVE COMPLEMENT |
---|---|---|
Charlie |
is |
happy. (Adj) "ascriptive be" |
is |
a student / nine. (NP) "specifying be" |
|
is |
in trouble / in class / on time. (PP) |
|
seems |
better (Adj) |
|
appears |
pleased (Participial Modifier) |
|
became |
angry (Adj) |
|
fell |
asleep (Adj) |
*A "be" verb may be followed by an adjective ("descriptive be") or a noun ("specifying be") Specifying vs. Ascriptive "be"
(Aarts 97) (Huddleston 4 §5.4)
Complements are words, phrases or clauses that complete the meaning of another element in the clause. In some cases, the complement is required in order to make sense. In other cases, the complement is not absolutely required but adds important modifying information. (The tall boy, the boy who is tall, the boy in the back)
The complement to the subject and the predicate is often a noun phrase (direct or indirect object) but may also be a prepositional phrase or clause. The complement fills in information about the person affected by the action, the person who is the recipient of the thing acted upon, the instrument of the action, the beneficiary of the action, the path, source, or goal of the action, and so on. See Transitive–Terminology.
Depending on the meaning expressed by the subject and predicate, one of the following may required to complete its meaning:
ADVERB 1 | PREDICATE | COMPLEMENT (IO) | COMPLEMENT (DO) | COMPLEMENT |
---|---|---|---|---|
Charlie |
raised |
|
his hand (NP) |
hurriedly / in a hurry.¹ |
washed |
|
his hands |
clean. (Adj as Comp) |
|
put |
|
his lunch |
away. (verb particle) |
|
gave |
me |
his hand |
|
|
gave |
|
his hand |
to me. (PP) |
|
does |
|
|
remarkably well. (Adv) |
|
loves |
|
|
to answer. (INF) |
|
enjoys |
|
|
singing. (GER) |
|
knows |
|
|
that he is very clever. (Sub. CLS) |
preposition of place, preposition of time, adjective as complement, finite/nonfinite clause
Dynamic verb – a verb in which an action takes place (e.g., eat, walk, drive, breathe). This is different from a static verb (e.g., be, seems, appears, acts).
IO—indirect object core complement (The person or entity that is the receiver or endpoint of the action.) [Huddleston 4 §1.1]s
DO—direct object core complement (The person or entity that is affected by the action of the agent; the thing acted upon.)
to me — "non-core complement" He gave me the ball. (core complement) He gave the ball to me. (non-core complement)
¹Short prepositional phrases that express manner, degree, time, place or frequency can be considered as complements in much the same way as their adverb counterparts (hurriedly = in a hurry). If the prepositional phrase is essential to the clause being understood (i.e., adds identifying or important information), then it is a complement. If the clause can easily stand without it, then it is adjunct.
COMPLEMENT TYPES |
---|
A complement is an element or elements required by a word or structure to complete its meaning. (If the word or clause makes sense without the element, then it is not required. That is, to say, it is not a complement. See Adjunct.) |
COMPLEMENT TO A NOUN |
The front of the room is cold. (preposition) The boy who was talking was annoying. (relative clause) Charlie's hand was always raised. (genitive). |
COMPLEMENT TO A PREPOSITION |
He ran upstairs¹. (noun included in preposition) He ran away¹. (understood object) He ran away from home. (P+PP) ("double prepositions") He ran to school. (NP) He ran instead of walking. (P+PP). He was excited about going home. He will go now instead of in the morning. See Rather than/Instead of.) See Prep Properties and Prep Complements. ¹Exceptions are: (1) prepositions that include nouns (He walked sideways / forward / downhill / upstairs.); (2) prepositions for which the object is understood. He walked away (from us). See Adverb vs. Preposition (traditional grammar). |
COMPLEMENT TYPES |
---|
A complement may modify, restrict, intensify, specify, and so on. The main element, for example Noun, is called the "head" and the complement is a "dependent". An element may have more than one dependent. |
COMPLEMENT TO A DETERMINER |
One of the students said the answer aloud. Most of the class already knew the answer Almost all knew it. (See Determiner Phrase.) |
COMPLEMENT TO AN ADJECTIVE |
She is unhappy with him. He is responsible for the accident. He is afraid of the dark. |
COMPLEMENT TO AN ADVERB |
He works independently of us. He will arrive later in the afternoon. He works quite independently. |
COMPLEMENT TO A PARTICIPLE |
He was amazed at what happened. He was overcome with grief. |
Also see A Phrase—adverb phrase, determiner phrase, adjective phrase, etc.—which include "dependents" ( complements).
(Aarts 90-105) (Huddleston & Pullum 213, complement v. adjunct 219)
Adjuncts are words, phrases or clauses that add optional (nonidentifying, nonessential) information about manner, degree, frequency, timing, and location of the activity or action. Adjuncts are mostly modifiers. (In this writer's opinion, grammarians vary on what they consider essential or nonessential.)
Depending on the meaning expressed by the subject and verb, one of the following may be (optionally) added:
ADJUNCT ADVERB | ADJUNCT ADVERB | PREDICATE | COMPLEMENT (IO/DO) | ADJUNCT PREP PHRASE |
---|---|---|---|---|
DEGREE ADVERBS | ADVERBS | V | NP | PP |
rather |
quickly |
raised |
his hand (DO) |
when she asked a question. |
all too |
often |
waves |
his hand (DO) |
though he doesn't know the answer. |
|
now |
raised |
his hand (DO) |
in the air.* |
|
only |
lowers |
his hand (DO) |
for a moment.* |
very |
confidently |
rose (intransitive) |
|
upward.* |
|
whenever he can |
shows |
me (IO) his hand (DO) to me¹. (V comp) |
|
|
all of a sudden (suddenly) |
stretched |
his hand |
out.* |
|
|
|
|
|
rose (V) – stood up
rather quickly (AdvP) – rather modifies quickly, and together they form an adverb phrase.
because, if, whether, when, etc. have been moved to the category of preposition in linguistic descriptions (They are also known as conjunctions or adverbial prepositions)
*Short prepositional phrases that express manner, degree, time, place or frequency can be considered as complements in much the same way as their adverb counterparts (hurriedly = in a hurry). If the prepositional phrase is essential to the clause being understood (i.e., adds identifying or important information), then it is a complement. If the clause can easily stand without it, then it is Adjunct.
Adverbs include degree, manner, frequency, focus, time, place
¹to me— a prepositional phrase that complements the verb but is not called an indirect object though it may function as "recipient" or "beneficiary".
(Aarts 102) (Huddleson & Pullum 663, complement v. adjunct 219)
Supplements are interpolations (words that interrupt the flow of thought) or appendages (words that are "loosely" attached at the beginning or end of the clause). In writing, they are often set off by commas, dashes, parentheses or colons. In speech, they are set off by a change in intonation which marks them as distinct or separate from the rest of the clause.
SUBJECT | SUPPLEMENT | THE REST OF THE CLAUSE |
---|---|---|
Charlie |
— the happiest guy I know— |
is only six years old. |
, it seems to me, |
is loved by his classmates. |
|
(his real name is Charles Alphonso) |
walks to school alone. |
|
, if you will, |
is a genius. |
SUBJECT | THE CLAUSE | SUPPLEMENT |
---|---|---|
Charlie |
is exceptionally cheerful |
— the happiest guy I know! |
is loved by his classmates |
, or so it seems. |
|
is exceptionally smart |
: he was reading at age 2 1/2. |
|
wants to be on Jeopardy too |
, if I may add. |
SUPPLEMENT | SUBJECT | THE CLAUSE |
---|---|---|
Maybe, |
Charlie |
will be the President. |
Fortunately, |
he has a few years to decide. |
|
Frankly, |
needs to relax and just be a kid. |
|
By the way, |
he is an only child. |
See Comma-Comments , Dashes and Parentheses
See Stance Adverbs: Adv for Evaluation, Adv for Opinion, Adv for Speech Acts, Connective Adverbs and Discourse Markers
TRADITIONAL DESCRIPTION |
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In traditional grammar, a clause is constructed with a subject and a verb. The subject may consist of additional modifiers: determiner, adjective, prepositional phrase, adjective phrase, etc. The verb is either dynamic or stative. Dynamic verbs take adverb modifiers, stative verbs do not. The verb is either intransitive (does not accept an object) or transitive (accepts an object). If it does accept an object, then the object can also take additional modifiers. In traditional grammar, when a noun has a modifier, the word "adjective" is used both for the "part of speech" and for the function (modifier). No distinction is made between category (part of speech) and function (a relational concept). For this reason, in linguistic grammar descriptions, one does not say "adjective clause" (a clause cannot be an adjective, but a clause can function as a modifier) or "a noun used as an adjective" (a noun cannot be an adjective, but a noun can function as a modifier). |
REED-KELLOGG DIAGRAM — SUBJECT |
REED-KELLOGG DIAGRAM — PREDICATE |
LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
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In current linguistic description, a clause includes a subject and a predicate. The subject is mostly realized with a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP). A NP consists of a head noun and determiners (if required) and modifiers (optional). The head governs (determines) the dependents, elements that can be added to the noun phrase . "The head of a clause (predicate) is realized by a verb phrase VP. And the head of the VP (the predicator) is realized by a verb. The verb thus functions as the ultimate head of the clause, and is the syntactically more important element within it: properties of the verb determine what other kinds of elements are required or permitted." (See Huddleston & Pullum for a more precise and complete description. "Sentence and Clause" 2.1–8)
|
TREE DIAGRAM — SUBJECT |
TREE DIAGRAM — PREDICATE |
The prepositional phrase in the air could function as a modifier to the predicate or as a complement to high. |
Curiosity killed the cat. — Wanting to know too much can get a person into serious trouble.
Two wrongs don't make a right. — This is a warning to a person who wants revenge.
Absence makes the heart grow stronger. — When a person we love is away, we tend to love them more. (A proverb we say to people who spend too much time together.)
Too many cooks spoil the broth. — We say this when it is better to have one person fully in charge of doing something (to avoid a situation in which everyone puts salt in the soup.)
A squeaking wheel gets oiled. — We tell this to a person who needs to keep on asking or complaining until the problem is properly fixed.
absence (N) – not being present, not being there)
broth (N) – soup
in charge of (verb phrase) – ;responsible for managing something
proverb (N) – a short popular saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought
get oiled (V) – has received oil to make something work
revenge (N) – something a person does in order to punish someone who has hurt or offended the person or loved ones
spoil (V) – ruin, make bad
tend (V) – be more likely,
squeak (N) – a high pitch sound made by a mouse or equipment that needs oil
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. – It's better to have a small real advantage than the possibility of a greater one.
Haste makes waste. – Hurrying causes a person to make mistakes.
A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client. – literal meaning (exactly as each word reads)
A stitch in time saves nine. – A timely effort will prevent more work later.
Ask a silly question and you'll get a silly answer. – literal meaning
advantage (N) – benefit, good point, plus
client (N) – person who receives a service in a business.
dominate (V) – take control of something or someone
fool (N) – a stupid person, or a person who has done something stupid
haste (N) – the action of hurrying
in time (expr.) – before it is too late; at a time the desired action is still possible
lawyer (N) – attorney, someone whose job is to advise people about laws, write formal agreements, or represent people in court
literal (Adj) – each word has its own, original meaning (opposite: expression)
stitch (N) – a short piece of thread that has been sewn into a piece of cloth, or the action of the thread going into and out of the cloth
wag (V) – move from side to side, especially the tail of a dog
— How is the movie so far?
— Well…
The girl behind me is throwing popcorn.
The guy wearing a blue shirt is chewing bubble gum.
The guy wearing glasses is kicking the side of my chair.
The guy to my left is feeling bored with the movie.
The curly-haired woman next to me is humming along with the movie.
A kid walking down the aisle of the theater is carrying a freshly-popped bag of popcorn.
A crazy woman standing in the aisle is dancing along with the people in the movie.
Another guy keeps making wise cracks during the love scenes.
Actually, the movie is not very good.
Watching the audience is more entertaining than watching the movie.
aisle (N) – a walkway between or along sections of seats in a theater, classroom, or the like.
chew (V) – crush with the teeth
hum (V) – to sing with closed lips, without saying words
wise cracks (expression) – jokes; making fun of something