Subject Complement

[Noego]

Hi!

Could anyone explain to me what a subject complement is.

I think I have an idea as to what it might be but I'd like a few examples to make sure I get it.

 

[Tdol]

Jeff's a lawyer. (lawyer = subject complement)

 

[TheParser]

Hi!

Could anyone explain to me what a subject complement is.

I think I have an idea as to what it might be but I'd like a few examples to make sure I get it.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Noego.

(1) I used to be confused by the word "complement," too.

(2) Then one day I read that "complement" comes from the word for "complete."

(a) In other words, it's a word that completes the meaning.

(i) TOM: Noego is.

MONA: Noego is what?

TOM: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't complete my sentence. I wanted to say that Noego is an excellent student.

(a) "An excellent student" refers to the subject ("Noego") and it "completes" the sentence. So grammar books have decided to call it a subject(ive) complement.

*****

GEORGE: Today you look.

MONA: I look what? Crazy? Ugly? Angry?

GEORGE: No! No! No! You look beautiful!

MONA: Thank you so much, George, for completing your sentence with that nice word. I really like it when people describe me as beautiful.

Have a nice day!

 

[MASM]

I love the way you explain things, The Parser!

I think this is one of the first problems that you can encounter when analysing sentences in English.

Fortunately, among the complements, subject complements are the easiest to distinguish.

I used to cut off the sentence to see if it made any sense as The Parser did in his examples. He is tall..He is (¿?)
They usually go with: be, seem, look that are directly related to the subject:

"You look ill"
" My sister is a nurse"