Subject and object complements

In the sentence 'After the long hike, the lemonade tasted sweet,' which word is the predicate adjective?

• hike

• lemonade

• tasted

• sweet

Answer explanation

The word 'sweet' is a predicate adjective because it follows the linking verb 'tasted' and describes the subject 'lemonade'. The other options are a noun, the subject, and the linking verb.

Which word is the predicate noun in this sentence: My best friend is the team captain.

• friend

• is

• team

• captain

Answer explanation

The word 'captain' is a predicate noun because it follows the linking verb 'is' and renames the subject 'friend'. 'Team' is an adjective modifying 'captain'.

What is the main job of a predicate noun?

• to describe an action

• to rename the subject

• to show possession

• to modify a verb

Answer explanation

A predicate noun, also called a predicate nominative, is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. It does not describe actions or modify verbs.

True or False: In the sentence 'The new video game looks exciting,' the word 'exciting' is a predicate adjective.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is true. 'Exciting' is an adjective that follows the linking verb 'looks' and describes the subject, 'video game'.

Read the two sentences: 1. The chef tasted the soup. 2. The soup tasted salty. In which sentence is there a subject complement instead of a direct object?

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 2

• Both sentences

• Neither sentence

Answer explanation

In sentence 2, 'tasted' is a linking verb and 'salty' is a subject complement (predicate adjective) describing the soup. In sentence 1, 'tasted' is an action verb and 'soup' is a direct object receiving the action.

The coach declared Maria the winner. What is the object complement in this sentence?

• coach

• Maria

• winner

• declared

Answer explanation

The word 'winner' is the object complement because it follows the direct object 'Maria' and renames it. The action verb is 'declared'.

Complete the sentence with the correct predicate adjective: After the race, the runner felt _____.

• tired

• tiredly

• tiredness

• tire

Answer explanation

A predicate adjective should be used after a linking verb like 'felt' to describe the subject. 'Tired' is an adjective, while 'tiredly' is an adverb.

We found the movie hilarious. What does the object complement 'hilarious' do in this sentence?

• It renames the subject 'We'

• It describes the direct object 'movie'

• It describes the verb 'found'

• It renames the direct object 'movie'

Answer explanation

'Hilarious' is an adjective that describes the direct object 'movie'. Object complements can either rename or describe the direct object.

True or False: A sentence with the pattern Subject-Linking Verb-Subject Complement (S-LV-SC) must contain an action.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. Linking verbs, such as 'is', 'seem', or 'become', connect the subject to a word that describes it; they show a state of being, not an action.

Complete the sentence with an object complement that renames the direct object: The class chose Leo _____.

• for he was nice

• our class representative

• to give a speech

• happily

Answer explanation

'Our class representative' is a noun phrase that renames the direct object 'Leo', making it a valid object complement. The other options are a clause, a phrase used as an adverb, and an adverb.