Subject complement

In traditional <a href="/facts/Grammar/vprQsHIR">grammar</a>, a subject complement is a <a href="/facts/Predicative_expression/rFaVNWcJ">predicative expression</a> that follows a <a href="/facts/Copula_(linguistics)/nFkAhQhL">copula</a> (commonly known as a <a href="/facts/Linking_verb/EA6SyJjQ">linking verb</a>), which <a href="/facts/Complement_(linguistics)/jywrgR8C">complements</a> the <a href="/facts/Subject_(grammar)/h5M1cQJ2">subject</a> of a <a href="/facts/Clause_(linguistics)/EHKUG2NV">clause</a> by means of characterization that completes the meaning of the subject.
When a <a href="/facts/Noun/SsnDNfkX">noun</a>, <a href="/facts/Noun_phrase/mmz3tJt9">noun phrase</a>, or <a href="/facts/Pronoun/UsbSNRSl">pronoun</a> functions as a subject complement, it is called a <a href="/facts/Predicative_expression/rFaVNWcJ">predicative nominal</a>. When an <a href="/facts/Adjective/0ohBjtmT">adjective</a> or analogous phrase functions as subject complement, it is called a <a href="/facts/Predicative_expression/rFaVNWcJ">predicative adjective</a>. In either case the <a href="/facts/Complement_(linguistics)/jywrgR8C">predicative complement</a> corresponds to the subject.
Within the small class of copulas that preface a subject complement, the verb be, or one of its concomitant forms, is the most common. Because a copula is an <a href="/facts/Intransitive_verb/W4TRD0n5">intransitive verb</a>, subject complements are not customarily construed to be the <a href="/facts/Object_(grammar)/wybTVzna">object</a> of the verb. They are often deemed to be neither <a href="/facts/Argument_(linguistics)/U0y7yQXG">arguments</a> nor <a href="/facts/Adjunct_(linguistics)/EMJBXzd1">adjuncts</a> of a predicate. A plural or singular subject, rather than a subject complement determines the <a href="/facts/Grammatical_number/zzs5AV6v">grammatical number</a> expressed by a copula.

Subject complement open-in-new

Subject complement