Predication
These relate to how the subject and predicate (verb + what comes with it) interact.
Complete Predication (CP)
- What is it: When a verb expresses a complete idea with just a subject.
- How to spot it: The verb doesn’t need anything else to make sense.
- Example: “She sleeps” (“Sleeps” is enough for the sentence to make sense.
- Dependency: Only needs a subject.
Incomplete Predication (IP)
- What is it: When a verb requires more to complete the meaning (like a subject
complement or object)
- How to spot it: Ask “Does this verb feel incomplete without more info?”
- Example: “She is…” Incomplete. Needs something like “happy”.
- Dependency: Needs a Complement or Object.
Objects and Complements
These are often required or optional parts that follow verbs
Direct Object (DO)
- What is it: The thing/person that receives the action.
- How to spot it: Ask “what?” or “whom?” After the verb.
- Example: “He eats pizza.” (Eats what? Pizza)
- Dependency: Depends on transitive verbs.
Indirect Object (IO)
- What is it: The receiver of the direct object.
- How to spot it: Ask “to/for whom?” After the verb.
- Example: “He gave her book” (Gave what? A book. To whom? Her.)
- Dependency: Comes with a DO. Usually before DO if not prepositional.
Prepositional Indirect Object (Prep IO)
- What it is: An indirect object introduced by a preposition (To or For)
- How to spot it: Look for a phrase like “to her or “for them”
- Example: “He gave a book to her.”
- Dependency: Depends on the verb and usually follows DO
Complements
Complements give extra information, often about the subject or object.
Subjective Complement (SC)
- What is it: Gives information about the subject (Intransitive verb - Linking verbs)
- How to spot it: Comes after linking verbs or intransitive verbs.
- Example: “She is a doctor” / “She looks tired”
- Dependency: Required by linking verbs/Intransitive verbs; Depends on the subject.
Objective Complement (OC)
- What is it: Describes or renames the direct object (DO)
- How to spot it: Comes after a DO or says something about the DO.
- Example: “They elected him president” (He = president)
- Dependency: Comes with a DO and certain verbs (elect, name, consider…)
Adverbials
These describe how, when, where, why something happens.
Adverbial Adjunct (A.A.)
- What is it: Extra, optional information about time, place, manner, reason, etc.
- How to spot it: Can be removed without breaking the sentence.
- Example: “She sings in the shower” “He arrived yesterday”
- Dependency: Not required; loosely connected to the verb or clause.
Adverbial Complement (AC)
- What is it: Necessary adverbial information that completes the meaning
- How to spot it: Removing it makes the sentence feel incomplete.
- Example: “He lives in Paris” (“He lives” feels incomplete)
- Dependency: Depends on the verb; some verbs require it to make sense.
