Learn on PengiElements of Language, 2nd CourseChapter 4: Complements: Direct and Indirect Objects, Subject Complements

Lesson 1: Recognizing Complements

In this Grade 5 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 2nd Course, students learn to identify complements — nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that complete the meaning of a verb in a sentence. The lesson covers how to distinguish complements from adverbs and prepositional phrases, which can never serve as complements. Students practice recognizing complements through exercises involving direct identification and arrow-drawing activities.

Section 1

The Complement

Definition

A complement is a word or word group that completes the meaning of a verb.

Explanation

Think of a complement as the puzzle piece that finishes a verb's idea. It answers the question “what?” or “whom?” after an action verb, or it describes the subject after a linking verb. A sentence can feel incomplete without its complement! It’s a key part that helps the verb make full sense.

Examples

  • The coach gave her a high-five. [The pronoun her and the noun high-five complete the meaning of the verb gave.]
  • The puppies are playful. [The adjective playful completes the meaning of the verb are.]
  • My cousin became a firefighter. [The noun firefighter completes the meaning of the verb became.]

Section 2

Complements vs Adverbs

Definition

An adverb is never a complement.

Explanation

Don't mix up complements with adverbs! An adverb tells you how, when, or where an action happens. A super helpful clue is that many adverbs end in –ly. A complement, however, tells you what or whom the verb is affecting. It completes the verb's meaning, while an adverb just adds description.

Examples

  • Adverb: The student worked diligently. [The adverb diligently describes how the student worked. It is not a complement.]
  • Complement: The student finished the project. [The complement project tells what the student finished and completes the meaning of the verb.]

Section 3

Complements vs Objects of Prepositions

Definition

A complement is never in a prepositional phrase.

Explanation

Be a grammar detective and look out for prepositional phrases! These phrases start with words like in, at, on, for, or under. The noun at the end of that phrase is an object of the preposition, not a complement. A true complement is directly connected to the verb, not tucked away inside a prepositional phrase.

Examples

  • Object of a Preposition: He painted in the studio. [The noun studio is the object of the preposition in. It is not a complement.]
  • Complement: He painted the studio. [The complement studio tells what he painted and completes the meaning of the verb painted.]

Book overview

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Chapter 4: Complements: Direct and Indirect Objects, Subject Complements

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Recognizing Complements

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Objects of Verbs: Direct Objects, Indirect Objects

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Predicate Nominatives

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Predicate Adjectives

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

The Complement

Definition

A complement is a word or word group that completes the meaning of a verb.

Explanation

Think of a complement as the puzzle piece that finishes a verb's idea. It answers the question “what?” or “whom?” after an action verb, or it describes the subject after a linking verb. A sentence can feel incomplete without its complement! It’s a key part that helps the verb make full sense.

Examples

  • The coach gave her a high-five. [The pronoun her and the noun high-five complete the meaning of the verb gave.]
  • The puppies are playful. [The adjective playful completes the meaning of the verb are.]
  • My cousin became a firefighter. [The noun firefighter completes the meaning of the verb became.]

Section 2

Complements vs Adverbs

Definition

An adverb is never a complement.

Explanation

Don't mix up complements with adverbs! An adverb tells you how, when, or where an action happens. A super helpful clue is that many adverbs end in –ly. A complement, however, tells you what or whom the verb is affecting. It completes the verb's meaning, while an adverb just adds description.

Examples

  • Adverb: The student worked diligently. [The adverb diligently describes how the student worked. It is not a complement.]
  • Complement: The student finished the project. [The complement project tells what the student finished and completes the meaning of the verb.]

Section 3

Complements vs Objects of Prepositions

Definition

A complement is never in a prepositional phrase.

Explanation

Be a grammar detective and look out for prepositional phrases! These phrases start with words like in, at, on, for, or under. The noun at the end of that phrase is an object of the preposition, not a complement. A true complement is directly connected to the verb, not tucked away inside a prepositional phrase.

Examples

  • Object of a Preposition: He painted in the studio. [The noun studio is the object of the preposition in. It is not a complement.]
  • Complement: He painted the studio. [The complement studio tells what he painted and completes the meaning of the verb painted.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 4: Complements: Direct and Indirect Objects, Subject Complements

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Recognizing Complements

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Objects of Verbs: Direct Objects, Indirect Objects

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Predicate Nominatives

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Predicate Adjectives

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