Predicative Complement Example

The predicative complement Or simply predicative, is a complement that is found after the verb, and modifies both the verb and the direct object or the subject, describing a characteristic or state of the subject that it modifies, at the same time that it modifies the verb.

The predicative resembles the circumstantial complement, its difference is that the complement circumstance only affects the verb, while the predicative affects both the verb and the subject:

Jorge called late ("Late" is a circumstantial complement that says how he called, in this case, referring to time).

Jorge called annoyed ("Angry" is a predicative since it tells how the action of the verb develops, and at the same time it is related to the subject's state of mind).

The predicative agrees in gender and number with the subject:

We arrived hungry to the house (“hungry” is predicative and agrees in gender and number with the subject).

They will return early to the house ("early" is a circumstantial complement, since it does not agree in gender or number with the subject).

The predicative complement can also be confused with the attribute. The difference is that the predicative is always a complementary part of a verb that establishes an action, while the attribute uses connective verbs, to link the subject with its characteristic:

Diana is contented ("contenta" is an attribute, since the verb estar links the subject with this attribute).

Diana walks contented (“contenta”, in this case, is predicative, since it indicates the way she walks and her state of mind).

Another way to recognize whether a word or phrase is working as a predicative or an attribute is to see if it can be removed without making the sentence meaningless or modified. Using the sentences from the previous example:

Diana is happy (By eliminating the word "contented" the sentence loses meaning, so in this case it is an attribute).

Diana walks happy (By eliminating "contenta", the sentence still makes sense, so in this case the predicative complement).

The predicative complement can be formed by words such as adjectives or adverbs, or by another type of complements, such as adjectival complements, nominal complements or complements adverbials:

Juan works hurriedly in the project (adverb).
Elena breathes peaceful since she went on vacation (adjective)
My cousin runs like cheetah en la pista (adverbial complement)
The boss dispatches a troche and moche Fridays (adjectival complement)
My teacher walks taxi driver in the afternoons (nominal complement)

50 examples of sentences with predicative complement:

1. The train arrives in a hurry to the station.
2. The boss works like a caged beast in her office.
3. My friend wore beautifull her hair.
4. The birds flew away with panic when the shot rang out.
5. The dog bit furiously To the postman.
6. Jorge ran like a soul that the devil carries when they told him about the fire.
7. We walked dog paw in all the city.
8. The cat was climbing excited the tree in the yard.
9. Estela washed its jet hair
10. The bride walks graceful around the room.

1. The teacher explained calm differential equations.
2. Time goes by indolent.
3. The duck was swimming carefree in the pond.
4. The house remained White as he remembered her.
5. The wind lifted playful clothes on the clotheslines.
6. A thread held invisible to the actor.
7. The light illuminated faint the hotel stay.
8. The dog devoured with voracious appetite the bone he found.
9. The office works serious and serious every day I know the week
10. The shovel starts Useless a few stones.
11. The ad appeared upset every five minutes.
12. The mountain dominated as an eternal vigilant the landscape of the village.
13. Mom scold furious to the kids
14. The road came green to the town.
15. The lights announced bright the new restaurant.
16. The book showed shy a suggestive image.
17. The old man expected impassive the arrival of the train.
18. My aunt listened without giving credit the shocking news.
19. That man acted villain in the theater.
20. The screen showed fuzzily the movie.
21. The little boy was looking for desperate the headphones from him.
22. We continue the difficult ones English classes.
23. The beard grows bushy every day.
24. The written assignment to the race It was the best.
25. The sunsets were running heavy on the rail.
26. The neighbor bought cheap vegetables.
27. The subway advanced slow when we get back.
28. The children listened attentive the lesson.
29. The painting looked glossy in the car.
30. The books exhibited old-fashioned their titles.
31. The star flashed dimly at night.
32. Ana danced cheerful at the party.
33. Jose travels sleepy on the train.
34. The family returned tired From the trip.
35. Javier saw satisfied the test result.
36. Business was progressing slow.
37. Television broadcasts horrible programs.
38. My computer works slow.
39. The birds fly as one Towards the park.
40. That store sells cute ornaments.