subjective complement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “subjective complement” mean?
A word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or identifies the subject of the sentence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or identifies the subject of the sentence.
In grammar, a complement that provides additional information about the subject, typically an adjective, noun, or noun phrase, completing the meaning of a linking verb such as 'be', 'become', 'seem', 'appear', 'feel', or 'look'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. The term is used identically in grammatical terminology across both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no cultural or stylistic connotations.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to linguistics, grammar teaching, and advanced language education contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “subjective complement” in a Sentence
SVC (Subject-Verb-Complement)SVCs (Subject-Verb-Subjective Complement)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “subjective complement” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- In 'The sky grew dark', 'dark' is the subjective complement.
American English
- In 'The movie seems boring', 'boring' is the subjective complement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in linguistics, grammar, and language teaching papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core term in grammatical analysis and language pedagogy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “subjective complement”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “subjective complement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “subjective complement”
- Confusing it with an 'objective complement' (which describes the object).
- Thinking it must be 'subjective' in the sense of expressing opinion.
- Using it to refer to any word after the verb, rather than specifically after a linking verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A direct object receives the action of a transitive verb. A subjective complement describes the subject and follows a linking verb.
Yes. It can be an adjective phrase (e.g., 'extremely difficult') or a noun phrase (e.g., 'the best chef in town').
A subjective complement describes the subject (She is happy). An objective complement describes the direct object (They made him captain).
Typically, yes. Linking verbs (be, seem, become, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, smell) connect the subject to its complement, which completes the idea.
A word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or identifies the subject of the sentence.
Subjective complement is usually technical / academic in register.
Subjective complement: in British English it is pronounced /səbˈdʒektɪv ˈkɒmplɪmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /səbˈdʒektɪv ˈkɑːmplɪmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SUBJECTive complement tells you more about the SUBJECT. It SUBJECTively describes the subject.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRAMMAR IS ANATOMY (The subjective complement is a part that completes the 'body' of the subject.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following contains a subjective complement?