subject complement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “subject complement” mean?
A word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or identifies the subject of a clause.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or identifies the subject of a clause.
In linguistic analysis, a constituent of a clause that is required by certain verbs (copulas) to complete the predicate and express a state, identity, or attribute of the subject.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major usage differences. The term itself is identical. Minor differences may exist in example sentences due to regional vocabulary or spelling.
Connotations
Purely technical/grammatical term with no cultural connotations.
Frequency
Used with equal frequency in grammar instruction and linguistic analysis in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “subject complement” in a Sentence
SVCs (Subject + Verb Copular + Subject Complement)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “subject complement” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The weather has turned rather nasty.
- He became the manager last week.
American English
- The milk turned sour quickly.
- She became president in 2020.
adjective
British English
- Your idea sounds absolutely brilliant.
- The children remained quiet throughout the film.
American English
- That pie smells incredibly delicious.
- He stayed calm during the crisis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in formal writing training or precise communication workshops.
Academic
Common in English language, linguistics, and grammar textbooks and courses.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in syntactic theory, descriptive grammar, and language teaching pedagogy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “subject complement”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “subject complement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “subject complement”
- Mistaking a direct object after an action verb for a subject complement (e.g., 'She built a house' - 'house' is an object, not a subject complement).
- Forgetting that only linking verbs (be, seem, become, appear, feel, look, taste, etc.) can take a subject complement.
- Using an adverb instead of an adjective as a subject complement after a linking verb (e.g., 'The soup tastes deliciously' is incorrect; it must be 'delicious').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A subject complement describes the subject (She is happy). An object complement describes the direct object (The news made her happy).
Yes. It can be a noun phrase ('a very talented musician') or an adjective phrase ('extremely pleased with the result').
No. 'There' is a dummy subject. The real subject is 'a problem', and there is no complement describing 'there'.
Yes, by definition. A linking verb's primary function is to connect the subject to its complement, expressing a state or identity rather than an action.
A word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or identifies the subject of a clause.
Subject complement is usually academic / technical in register.
Subject complement: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌb.dʒɪkt ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌb.dʒekt ˈkɑːm.plə.mənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the linking verb as an EQUALS sign (=). The subject complement is what the subject BECOMES or IS LIKE. In 'She is a doctor', 'doctor' completes 'she' via the '=' (is).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SUBJECT IS ITS COMPLEMENT (Identity/State). The linking verb is a bridge or mirror reflecting the subject's state or identity onto the complement.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences contains a subject complement?