Subject Complements

In a sentence, what is the main job of a subject complement?

• It renames or describes the subject.

• It shows the action the subject is doing.

• It receives the action of the verb.

• It modifies the verb.

Answer explanation

A subject complement follows a linking verb and either renames the subject (predicate nominative) or describes it (predicate adjective). The other options describe action verbs, direct objects, or adverbs.

Which sentence has a predicate nominative (a noun that renames the subject)?

• My dog seems happy today.

• The winner of the race is you.

• I read a good book.

• The music sounds loud.

Answer explanation

The pronoun 'you' is a predicate nominative because it follows the linking verb 'is' and renames the subject 'winner.' The other sentences contain a predicate adjective ('happy,' 'loud') or a direct object ('book').

Which sentence contains a subject complement instead of a direct object?

• My brother built a cool Lego castle.

• The new student seems really friendly.

• I tasted the spicy chili.

• She kicked the soccer ball.

Answer explanation

This sentence uses the linking verb 'seems' to connect the subject 'student' with the predicate adjective 'friendly.' The other sentences use action verbs ('built,' 'tasted,' 'kicked') followed by direct objects.

True or False: To describe the subject after a linking verb like 'feel' or 'look', you should almost always use an adjective, not an adverb.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Linking verbs connect the subject to a descriptor, so a predicate adjective is needed (e.g., 'I feel bad,' not 'I feel badly'). Adverbs describe verbs, not subjects.

Fill in the blank: My older sister will become _____ next year.

• a high school student

• to the high school

• studiously

• studying

Answer explanation

The linking verb 'will become' needs a predicate nominative to rename the subject 'sister.' The noun phrase 'a high school student' correctly renames her.

Fill in the blank with the word that correctly describes the subject: The flowers in the garden smell _____.

• sweet

• sweetly

• sweetness

• sweeter

Answer explanation

The sensory verb 'smell' is used as a linking verb here, so it requires a predicate adjective to describe the subject 'flowers.' 'Sweet' is the correct adjective, while 'sweetly' is an adverb.

In the question 'Was the final boss in the video game a giant dragon?', what is the subject complement?

• Was

• final boss

• in the video game

• a giant dragon

Answer explanation

Even in a question, the subject complement renames the subject. The noun phrase 'a giant dragon' follows the linking verb 'was' and renames the subject 'final boss.'

Fill in the blank with the correct verb: The biggest challenge for the team _____ the two final exams.

• is

• are

• be

• were

Answer explanation

The verb must agree with the singular subject 'challenge,' not the plural subject complement 'exams.' Therefore, the correct verb is 'is.'

Fill in the blank with the phrase that best functions as a subject complement: My favorite part of the trip was _____.

• when we left

• because it was fun

• the long bus ride to the museum

• quickly

Answer explanation

The linking verb 'was' requires a subject complement to rename the subject 'part.' The noun phrase 'the long bus ride to the museum' correctly renames the favorite part of the trip.

What is the complete subject complement in the sentence: 'The best choice for our class president is the person with the most experience.'?

• president

• the person

• the person with the most experience

• with the most experience

Answer explanation

The complete subject complement includes the noun ('person') and all words that modify it. The entire phrase 'the person with the most experience' renames the subject 'choice' after the linking verb 'is.'