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(Group 7th) Structures of Complementation

1. A structure of complementation has two immediate constituents: a verbal element and a complement. 2. There are three main groups of verbal elements: linking verbs, intransitive verbs, and transitive verbs. Linking verbs link the subject to the complement but have no passive, intransitive verbs complete the predicate without a complement, and transitive verbs always have a complement. 3. Complements include subjective complements with linking verbs, direct objects with transitive verbs, indirect objects which are nouns or structures that modify or coordinate with nouns, and objective complements which do not fit the indirect and direct object pattern.

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476 views

(Group 7th) Structures of Complementation

1. A structure of complementation has two immediate constituents: a verbal element and a complement. 2. There are three main groups of verbal elements: linking verbs, intransitive verbs, and transitive verbs. Linking verbs link the subject to the complement but have no passive, intransitive verbs complete the predicate without a complement, and transitive verbs always have a complement. 3. Complements include subjective complements with linking verbs, direct objects with transitive verbs, indirect objects which are nouns or structures that modify or coordinate with nouns, and objective complements which do not fit the indirect and direct object pattern.

Uploaded by

Farhan HP
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STRUCTURES OF COMPLEMENTATION

Structures of Complementation

A structure of complementation has two immediate constituents:

1. Verbal element
2. Complement

Verb C Complement

Verbal Element

• Simple verb : He gives lessons


• Verb-Phrase : We are learning syntax
• Infinitive : (a boy) to run errands
• Structure of modification : (I) never in my life said that
• Structure of coordination : We caught and ate the fish

He P gives C lessons

Three Main Groups of Verbal Element

1. Linking verbs : structural link between subject and complement


2. Intransitive verbs : complete predicate without complement
3. Transitive verbs : always have complement

Linking Verbs:

• Structural link between subject and complement


• Have complement but no passive

E.g. The man was/became/seemed/remained/looked/sounded hungry

He P was C hungry
Intransitive Verbs:

• Complete predicate without any complement


• Have neither complement nor passive

E.g. the rain stopped soon

The rain P stopped ← soon

Transitive verbs (new slide)

• Always have complement


• Have both complement and passive

Ex : the man sold his car


The car was sold (by him)

The man P sold CP His car

Complements (new slide)

• Subjective complement
• Direct object
• Objective complement
• Indirect object

1. Subjective Complement (new slide)


Compliment appearing with linking verbs
• Noun : the woman is a teacher
• Function word : ripeness is all
• Adjective : the apple is ripe
• Adverb : the time is now
• Verb : his wish is to die
• Prepositional phrase : the train was on time
SC
• P
The woman is CP A teacher
Other example for subjective complement : (new slide)

a) Structure of modification : he is a promising young member of the university


b) Structure of coordination : the day was dark, gloomy, and cold
c) Structure of complementation : his hobby is collecting stamps
d) Structure of predication : the winner is whoever crosses the line first

2. Direct Object (new slide)


Complement appearing with transitive verb, a single object.
• Noun : I found a friend
• Pronoun : I saw him
• Function noun : we sent some
• Verb : they want to go / she likes walking

DO
I • P found
d
CP A friend

Other example for direct object : (new slide)

a) Structure of modification : we saw an excellent new play about java


b) Structure of coordination : the university needs a new platform and a new leader
c) Structure of complementation : they like studying syntax
d) Structure of predication : I wonder where he is

3. Indirect Object
When the complement of a structure of complementation whose verbal element is transitive
consists of two objects, one of them is always a direct object. The other is either an indirect
object or an objective complement.
Example:
He (P) gave (c) his friend two books
In contrast to direct objects, indirect objects are always nouns, noun headed structures of
modification, or structures of coordination with noun constituents.
Noun : he told the policeman hid name
Function noun : we gave each a present
Pronoun : the agent sold them a house
Structure of modification : she made the hungry tramp a sandwich
I paid the man in the booth a quarter
Structure coordination : he gave his father and mother a present

Objective complement
Consisting of two objects do not fit the indirect + direct object pattern. Consider such an
utterance as this:
We (p) elected (c) his brother president

Objective complements may be nouns (but seldom pronouns or function nouns), adjective,
adverbs, verbs (in past-participle form), prepotional phrases, or structures of modification or
coordination:
Noun : we made him a member
Adjective : he painted his house green
Adverb : we found him alone
Past participle : they considered the job finished
Prepositional phrase : he left her in tears
Structure of modification : we made him a member of our club
We found it
a trying and difficult task for beginners
Structure of coordination : he painted his house red, white, and blue
We consider his conduct
a scandal and a disgrace

Objects with passive verbs, a verbal element in the passive voice can have a compliment, but it
always consists of a single object. This may be any 3 kinds direct object, indirect object, or
objective complement:
a. He was given a book
b. A book was given him
c. He was elected president
When the verbs of these structures are changed to the active voice:
a. Gave him a book
b. Gave him a book
c. Elected him president
From the point above: that a book in (a) is a direct object, him in (b) as indirect object, and
president in (c) an objective complement.

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