Verb Complements

Some verbs can stand alone in a sentence, and the sentence will still make sense.  Jim runs. Sally ate. Bill cried.

Yet, there are quite a few verbs that can’t stand alone.  Most of the time, these verbs need another word or phrase to make the sentence complete.  Jim bought. [What?] Sally gave [What?] Bill threw. [What?]

A noun or a pronoun that receives the action of a verb is called the direct object. 

An action verb in combination with a direct object will often make the sentence complete. Jim bought candles [candles is the direct

object] Sally gave four dollars to the Salvation Army.

[dollars is the direct object] Bill threw the ball. [ball is the direct object]. Bill threw it. [it is a direct object]

o Remember that that there is a clear difference between a subject and direct object.  A direct object receives the action, whereas the subject is performing the action [where an action verb is involved].

o Indirect objects answer the question to what or for whom the action is completed.  An indirect object always comes before the direct object.

I lent Sally my tools. I cooked Bob a nice dinner

I lent Sally my tools.

Predicate Adjectives Predicate Adjectives are adjectives that

follow a linking verb and describe the verb’s subject.

Examples: The airplanes were loud. Subject= airplanes linking verb= were

predicate adjective= loud

Sentence Pattern Subject linking verb PA

Sam was anxious. (Anxious describes Sam)

The girls are goofy. (Goofy describes the girls)

I am sleepy. (Sleepy describes me.)

Sentence Pattern Subject linking verb PA

Sam was anxious. (Anxious describes Sam)

The girls are goofy. (Goofy describes the girls)

I am sleepy. (Sleepy describes me.)