Lesson 5

Question 1

What is a sentence complement? Give the four complements.

Answer 1

A complement is one or more words in the predicate that complete the meaning of the subject and verb. The four complements are predicate nominative, predicate adjective, direct object, and indirect object.

Question 2

What parts of speech are NOT complements?

Answer 2

Adverbs and prepositional phrases are not complements.

Question 3

Define predicate nominative. Give an example.

Answer 3

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linkin verb and renames the subject.

Ex. Wilbur is a pig.

Question 4

Define predicate adjective. Give an example.

Answer 4

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject.

Ex. Wilbur is tired.

Question 5

What question does the predicate nominative or predicate adjective answer?

Answer 5

The predicate nominative or adjective answers the question what or who after a linking verb.

Question 6

What is a linking verb?

Answer 6

A linking verb connects the subject with a noun or ajdective in the predicate. It shows being, not action.

Question 7

What is the most common linking verb?

Answer 7

The to be verb is the most common linking verb.

Question 8

Forms of the to be verb may be used as linking or helping verbs. Give an example of each.

Answer 8

Ex. 1 Wilbur is a pig. (linking verb)

Ex. 2 Wilbur is walking to the barn (heping verb for main verb, walking)

Question 9

What verbs in addition to the to be verb can be linking verbs?

Answer 9

appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem smell, sound, stay, taste​

Question 10

Use smell as an action verb and a linking verb.

Answer 10

Jane smells the rose. (action verb)

The rose smells wonderful. (linking verb)

Question 11

Define direct object. Give an example.

Answer 11

A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.

Ex. The magister teaches Latin.

Question 12

What question does a direct object answer?

Answer 12

The direct object answers the question what or whom after an action verb.

Question 13

What is a complementary infinitive? Give an example.

Answer 13

A complementary infinitive is an infinitive used as a direct object.

Ex. Wilbur loves to learn. Wilbur wants to eat.

Question 14

What is an indirect object? Give an example.

Answer 14

An indirect object precedes the direct object and tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb is done.

Ex. 1 The magister teaches me Latin.

Ex. 2 The magister gives John a test.

Question 15

What kind of verbs usually have indirect objects?

Answer 15

Giving and telling verbs usually have indirect objects.

Question 16

Give five difficulties in finding the subject, with examples.

Answer 16

a. When sentences express a command or request, the subject is always you.

Ex. Study your Latin

(You) study your Latin.

b. To find a subject in a question, turn the question into a statement.

Ex. What lesson did you study?

You did study what lesson?

subect: you verb: did study

c. The subject of a sentence is never a propositional phrase.

Ex. Neither of the students studied his Latin.

Neither is the subject. Students is the object of the preposition of.

d. Here is not usually the subject of a verb.

Ex. Here is the book.

The book is here.

Here is an adverb telling where. Book is the subject of the verb is.

e. The expletives there and it are not usually subjects of a verb.

Ex. 1 There are books on both tables.

Books are on both tables.

Books is the subject of the verb are. There gets the sentence started.

Ex. 2 It is important to study Latin.

To study Latin is important.

To study is the subject of the verb is. It gets the sentence started.