50 Examples of Verb Complements

The verb complements are words or constructions that modify a verb and that serve to specify and complete its meaning. For example: john bought A car.

Verb complements can modify a conjugated verbs or to verboids (the non-personal forms of the verb, that is, the infinitives, the participles and the gerunds) in different constructions:

• In the verbal predicate of one bimember prayer. They modify a verb that is the verbal nucleus of the predicate of a bimembre sentence. For example: Andrea has three cats.
• In unimember sentences. They modify the verb that is the core of this type of sentence. For example: It's raining much.
• In nonverbal verb predicates infinitive, participle or gerund. They modify a verboid that is the nucleus in this type of predicates. For example: The cat hidden under the sofa.
• In infinitive, participle or gerund constructions. They modify a verboid that is the core in this type of construction. For example: I like to go to the movies.

• See also: elements of the sentence

Types of verb complements

There are several types of complements and, to differentiate them, it is necessary to take into account how they are formed and apply the recognition tests, since two constructions with similar structures can fulfill syntactic functions different.

Some of these complements are required by the verb, while others are adjuncts, that is, they add information, but are not essential from a syntactic point of view.

• Complements required by the verb. They are required by the verb they modify, since if they are removed, the sentence will be ungrammatical or will not have the same meaning. These complements are the direct complement, the indirect complement, the regime complement and the attribute complement. For example: Stephen is happy. (if the attribute "happy" is removed, the statement is ungrammatical)
• Attached plugins. They are those that, in most cases, can be eliminated and the sentence will not be ungrammatical. These complements are the predicative complement, the circumstantial complements and the agent complement. For example:Stephen went out happy of the cinema. (if the predicative object "happy" is removed, the sentence remains grammatical)

Direct complement

The direct complement is the word or construction that represents the person or entity that receives the action of the verb. If in a sentence there is a transitive verb, this plugin is required. For example: Sergio bought a house.

The direct object can be formed by:

• Nouns or noun constructions. For example: the artist painted picture.
• The preposition to + term (if it refers to a person or an animated being). For example: The artist greeted to your neighbor.
• Noun Subordinate Clauses. For example: the artist said that he loved to go for a walk.
• Pronouns direct complement (me, you, it, the, us, the, the). For example: The artist it painted.

How to recognize the direct object?

The recognition tests used to determine if a construct is a direct complement are:

• The word or construction can be replaced by the pronouns lo, la, los or las. For example: The guitarist composed a song. / The guitarist the composed.
• You can pass the sentence to passive voice. In this case, the direct complement will fulfill the function of subject. For example:The song was composed by the guitarist.

Indirect compliment

The indirect compliment represents the recipient of an action or an animated being that has or experiences certain tastes, emotions or feelings. This complement is usually obligatory with some verbs, but in certain cases it can be dispensed with. For example: The contest judges you awarded the first prize to Paula.

The indirect object can be formed by:

• The preposition to + term. For example: The cooks added a lot of salt the water.
• indirect object pronouns (me, you, him, us, them or se). For example: I I love science fiction books.

How to recognize the indirect object?

The recognition tests used to determine whether a construct is an indirect object are:

• The construction can be replaced by the pronouns him or them. For example: They added paprika to the sauce. / You they added paprika.
• The construction can be replaced by the pronoun se (only if there is a direct object pronoun in the sentence). They added paprika to the sauce. / I know they added it.

Regime Complement

The complement regimen is the construction that accompanies certain intransitive verbs or pronominals that require a preposition. This complement is necessary, because without it the sentence is ungrammatical or can change its meaning. For example: She is very supportive, she always thinks in the others.

The regimen complement can be formed by:

• Preposition + term. For example: the architect resigned at your work.

How to recognize the complement scheme?

The recognition tests that are used to determine if a construct is a regime complement are:

• The construction begins with a preposition. For example: She worries for the well-being of your loved ones.
• If the construction is removed, the sentence is ungrammatical or changes the meaning of the statement. For example: She worries.
• The term can be replaced by a neuter demonstrative pronoun (this, that, that) or by a stressed personal pronoun (me, you, he, she, we, we, you, they, they). For example: She worries that's why.
• The construction cannot be replaced by direct object or indirect object pronouns. For example: *She worries about it. / *She worries them.

Complement attribute

The plugin attribute is the one that states characteristics and states of the subject and that is mandatory if there is linking verbs (to be to be to look like). Furthermore, many grammarians consider that this complement is also required by verbs. pseudocopulatives, that is, verbs that are predicative, but that in some contexts work as copulatives. For example: They are Spanish people.

The complement attribute can be formed by:

• Nouns, pronouns, noun words or noun constructions. For example: Andrea is Professor of English.
• adjectives or constructions whose head is an adjective. For example: Andrea is blonde.
• Preposition + term. For example: Andrea is from Madrid.
• adverbs or constructions whose nucleus is an adverb. For example: Andrea is right.
• infinitives. For example: listening is to learn.
• Some subordinate clauses. For example: that tree is thatit falls at any moment.

How to recognize the plugin attribute?

The recognition tests used to determine if a construct is an attribute plugin are:

• The construction must be found together with copulative or pseudocopulative verbs. For example: this beach is very cute.
• The construction indicates a characteristic or a state of the subject. For example: The sky is orange.
• The construction can be replaced by the invariable pronoun lo or by the adverb asi. For example: The beach it it is.
• If the construction is removed, the sentence is ungrammatical and the statement makes no sense. For example: *This beach is.

predicative complement

The predicative complement enunciates qualities, characteristics and states of the subject or the direct complement. This complement differs from the attribute, because it modifies predicative verbs, not linking verbs, and because it is not usually mandatory for the sentence to make sense. For example: Henry went out glad of the concert.

However, some grammarians consider the attribute to be a predicative as well, and call it the obligatory subjective predicative. In addition, the subjective predicative (the one that modifies the subject) is usually differentiated from the objective predicative (the one that modifies the direct object).

The predicative complement can be formed by:

• Nouns, pronouns, noun words or noun constructions. For example: They named him Supreme Court Justice.
• adjectives or constructions whose head is an adjective. For example: Anne read excited the letter.
• Preposition + term. For example: I find you in good spirits.
• adverbs or constructions whose nucleus is an adverb. For example: When the chef returned to the kitchen, he found her very good.

How to recognize the predicative complement?

The recognition tests that are used to determine if a construction is a predicative complement are:

• The construction states characteristics or states of the subject or of the direct object, but never indicates the circumstances of the verb, since this function is typical of the circumstantial. For example: The cat plays entertaining with a ball of yarn.
• The construction complements predicative verbs, never linking verbs. For example: they chose her captain of the team.
• If ella is an adjective, ella agrees in gender and number with the subject or with the direct object. For example: She walks tired. (“cansada” is feminine and singular like the pronoun “ella”, which is the nucleus of the subject)

circumstantial accessories

The circumstantial complements are words or constructions that modify the verb and that provide information related to the time, place, manner, etc., that is, they are the circumstances in which a action. For example: they met in Brazil.

Circumstantial complements are considered adjuncts, since they are not required by the verb and if they are removed, the sentence will remain grammatical. For example: Pedro and Ana had dinner in a restaurant./ Pedro and Ana had dinner.

In addition, some linguists maintain that if the construction does not have a preposition, it is called a circumstantial and if it has a preposition, it is called a circumstantial complement. However, other specialists on the subject designate both types of constructions as circumstantial complements.

The circumstantial ones can be formed by:

• adverbs or constructions whose nucleus is an adverb. For example: Sofia played the guitar harmoniously.
• Preposition + term. For example: They left the shoes at the entrance of the house.
• Some nouns or noun constructions. For example: Next month The national football tournament begins.
• adverbial subordinate clauses. For example: the suitcase is not where i left it.

Types of circumstantial

There are different types of circumstantial complements that differ according to the information they provide:

• circumstantial complement of place. Indicates the place where an action takes place. Respond to the questions Where?, Where?, From where? either Where? For example:They came on route 47.
• circumstantial complement of time. Indicates the timing, duration, or frequency of an action or event. Answer the question When? For example:On Tuesday they will publish the list of materials for the drawing class.
• circumstantial complement of mode. Indicates the manner in which an action is carried out. Answer the question How? For example: The sun is rising slowly.
• Circumstantial Quantity Complement. Indicates information about the amount with which an action is carried out. Answer the question How many? For example:It rained yesterday much.
• Circumstantial complement of company. Point out with which other people the subject performs an action. Respond to the questions With who? Y With whom? For example: Julian went on vacation with your friends.
• Circumstantial instrument complement. Indicates the instrument with which an action is performed. Answer the question With what? For example:Julio pulled the nut with a clamp.
• Circumstantial matter complement. Indicates the material with which an action is carried out. Respond to the questions What material? either With what material? For example:The gardener filled in the well with earth.
• Medium circumstantial complement. Indicates the means by which an action is carried out. Respond to the questions How? either Through what? For example: They played their favorite song on the radio.
• Circumstantial complement of cause. Indicates the cause of an action. Answer the question Why? For example: the garden was flooded because of the rain.
• Circumstantial complement of purpose. Indicates for what purpose an action is carried out. Answer the question So that? For example:she worked a lot to save.
• Recipient Circumstantial Complement. Indicates the entity that is the recipient of an action. Respond to the questions For whom? either For whom? For example: The painter made a picture to a friend.

agent plugin

The agent plugin indicates the person or entity that carries out the action in the passive voice. In this voice, there is a change in the prototypical structure of the sentence, because the direct object becomes the subject (patient subject) and the subject of the active voice (acting subject) becomes the agent complement.

For example: The equation was solved by a brilliant mathematician. In this passive sentence, "the equation" is the patient subject and "by a brilliant mathematician" is the agent complement. On the other hand, if the sentence is in the active voice (a brilliant mathematiciansolved the equation), "a brilliant mathematician" is the acting subject and "the equation" is the direct object.

The purpose of the passive voice is to highlight the change of the patient subject. Therefore, in most cases, the agent plugin is neither required nor required, and if it is removed, the sentence still makes sense and is grammatical. For example: The equation was solved.

The agent plugin is made up of:

• The preposition by + term. For example: The law was passed by senators.

How to recognize the agent plugin?

The recognition tests used to determine if a construct is an agent plugin are:

• The construction has to be in a passive voice sentence. For example:the culprit was found by detective.
• The construction begins with the preposition by, although in some cases it is considered that it can be introduced by the preposition of. For example:The demonstration was called for all the unions in the country.
• If the sentence is passed to the active voice, the agent complement will fulfill the function of the subject and the subject of the passive voice will be the direct object. For example:The treatment was indicated by the doctor.(Passive sentence, "the treatment" is the subject and "by the doctor" is the agent complement) / the doctor indicated the treatment. (sentence in the active voice, "the doctor" is the subject and "the treatment" is the direct object)

Examples of verb complements

Examples of direct object

1. Ignatius I phoned.
2. the teacher helped to the student with the homework.
3. Last Saturday they saw your favorite movie.
4. We will put in the suitcases all that is necessary.
5. The tenant and landlord signed the rental agreement.
6. The janitor arranged the building's electric doorman.
7. The carpenter designed the furniture and then it She built.

Examples of indirect object

1. Sofia liked head hurts a lot.
2. You have to add more vegetables to the broth.
3. Our son us gave away a trip to the Caribbean for Christmas.
4. John's boss you he asked to finish the report by Tuesday.
5. Pedro them told a legend to their grandchildren.
6. Many people spiders are scary.
7. When they renovated the house, them they changed the frames to all windows.

Examples of complement regimen

1. The mechanic agreed to repair the car for Monday.
2. Mariela trusts in her friends.
3. joseph stumbled with a stone on the street.
4. I recommend this documentary that deals with about the origin of democracy.
5. On the news they discussed about the presidential election.
6. guido forgot to pick up the clothes in the laundry room.
7. After a couple of months, she got used to it to the weather.

Attribute Plugin Examples

1. These tiles are from Italy.
2. The reality is So.
3. The new neighbor seems nice.
4. The manager left, because he was With stomachache.
5. Maria is Estefania's best friend.
6. The neighbor's house seems cozy.
7. my aunt's cat is black and white.

Examples of predicative complement

1. When they came back from vacation, they found the house In very good condition.
2. the package arrived openTherefore, I went to claim at the post office.
3. From the bus, I saw Jorge in the train station.
4. Sonya walks with a smile.
5. Since it was very cold outside, they went home. colds.
6. The judge declared innocent.
7. She sang very happy.

Examples of circumstantial complements

1. My neighbors went on vacation to Japan. (circumstantial complement of place)
2. Peter goes to the gym every day. (circumstantial complement of time)
3. Wilhelmina plays very good to football. (circumstantial mode complement)
4. the judge works much. (circumstantial amount complement)
5. Pedro made this cake with his grandmother. (company circumstantial complement)
6. The locksmith was able to open the door with a screwdriver. (circumstantial instrument complement)
7. This dessert is made with condensed milk. (circumstantial matter complement)
8. They played your favorite movie on channel 47. (circumstantial medium complement)
9. The actor received an award for the role he played in the movie. (circumstantial complement of cause)
10. The manager called Sergio to congratulate him on his work. (circumstantial complement of purpose)
11. Dario wrote a poem for his girlfriend. (addressee's circumstantial complement)

Agent Plugin Examples

1. The vaccine was approved by the Ministry of Health.
2. The exams were corrected by the chair director.
3. The film was restored by a specialist.
4. The winners of the cooking contest were selected by three top chefs.
5. The theory of relativity was developed by Albert Einstein.
6. Economic measures will be announced by the president.
7. The sculpture was made by a great artist.

References:

• Membrilla Fernandez, A. m. (May 22, 2021). The attribute, the direct complement and the regimen complement. commons https://procomun.intef.es/ode/view/1624500001559
• Membrilla Fernandez, A. m. (May 22, 2021). The indirect object, the predicative object and the agent object. commons https://procomun.intef.es/ode/view/1624500001648
• Royal Spanish Academy & Association of Academies of the Spanish Language. (2010). New grammar of the Spanish language. Manual. Spare.
• Ruiz de Aguirre, A. (2020). new syntax. Own publication.

Follow with:

• transitive and intransitive verbs
• Syntax
• Subject and predicate
• verbal predicate
• simple predicate
• compound predicate
• compound sentences