Subject and object complements - Grade 6 Assessment

In grammar, a subject complement's main job is to do which of the following after a linking verb?

• Describe the action in the sentence.

• Rename or describe the subject.

• Show who received the action.

• Tell where the subject is going.

Answer explanation

A subject complement follows a linking verb (like is, feels, seems) and gives more information about the subject by either renaming it (predicate nominative) or describing it (predicate adjective).

A subject complement always follows a linking verb, like 'is,' 'seems,' or 'becomes.'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is a key rule! Subject complements are linked to the subject by linking verbs. Action verbs, on the other hand, are followed by direct objects, not subject complements.

In the sentence 'After the long hike, my legs felt tired,' which word is the subject complement that describes the subject?

• hike

• legs

• felt

• tired

Answer explanation

The subject is 'legs,' the linking verb is 'felt,' and 'tired' is the predicate adjective that describes how the legs felt. It completes the subject.

Let's find the predicate nominative, which is the noun that renames the subject. In the sentence, 'My older brother is a talented artist,' the predicate nominative is the word (a)   .

Answer explanation

The subject is 'brother,' the linking verb is 'is,' and 'artist' is the noun that renames what the brother is. 'A talented' just describes 'artist'.

Read this sentence carefully: 'Maria painted a beautiful picture.' The word 'picture' is a subject complement.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is a tricky one! The verb 'painted' is an action verb, not a linking verb. 'Picture' is a direct object because it receives the action of the verb 'painted.'

Look at the subject complement in this sentence: 'That new video game looks incredible!' What kind of subject complement is 'incredible'?

• A predicate adjective, because it describes the subject (game).

• A predicate nominative, because it renames the subject (game).

• Neither, because it's a direct object.

• Both, because it describes and renames the subject.

Answer explanation

The word 'incredible' is an adjective that describes the subject 'game.' It doesn't rename it. A predicate nominative would have to be a noun, like in 'The game is a classic.'

An object complement is a word that renames or describes the direct object. In the sentence, 'The spicy food made my brother sweaty,' the word that acts as the object complement is (a)   .

Answer explanation

The direct object is 'brother' (the thing being 'made'). The word 'sweaty' is an adjective that describes the direct object, 'brother,' so it's an object complement.

This one's a little trickier. Find the object complement, which is a noun that renames the direct object. 'The team captain called the new player a rookie.' The object complement is the noun (a)   .

Answer explanation

The direct object is 'player' (the person being 'called' something). The noun 'rookie' renames the direct object, 'player,' making it an object complement.

Let's practice using an object complement. Finish the sentence by adding a single word that describes the direct object 'the fence.' 'My dad painted the fence (a)   .'

Answer explanation

Any appropriate adjective like 'white,' 'brown,' 'red,' or 'green' would work. This word is an object complement because it describes the direct object, 'fence.'

Which of these sentences correctly uses an object complement to rename or describe the direct object?

• We found the lost puppy.

• The lost puppy was hungry.

• We considered the puppy a friend.

• The puppy played in the yard.

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'puppy' is the direct object. The noun 'friend' renames the direct object, so it's an object complement. 'We found the lost puppy' has a direct object but no complement. 'The lost puppy was hungry' has a subject complement.