- Complement versus Object

We are usually confused about Object and Complement in an English sentence. Look at the following examples.

1a. The man likes a teacher. (a teacher is an object)

S V O

1b. The man is a teacher. (a teacher is a complement)

S V C

In the sentence 1a. a teacher is the object of the verb likes. An object is thing which completes the transitive verb. It fulfills the question what (for inanimate thing) and whom (for human). In example 1a. we can ask what does he like? The answer is a teacher. A teacher is the object of the word likes.

In the sentence ib. above, the teacher gives explanation to the subject the man. Therefore a teacher is a complement of the subject the man. it is not an object. That is why the pattern is S V C, not S V O like in 1a. We can identify the complement by the statement the man is a teacher and a teacher is a man. The man and a teacher are complementarary in the example 1b. That is why a teacher is a subject complement, or we usually call complement for short.

Complements are usually nouns or adjectives. Complements come after the linking verbs. The linking verbs are as follows:

be (am, is, are , was, were), look (tampak/kelihatan), taste (terasa/rasanya), smell (baunya/berbau), feel (merasa), appear (kelihatan), get (menjadi), become (menjadi), go (menjadi), remain (tetap), sound (kedengarannya), keep (tetap), turn (berubah)

Examples:

A. Complement

1. She is beautiful. (Dia cantik)

2. She looks beautiful. (Dia nampak cantik)

3. This food smells nice. (Makanan ini baunya enak)

4. I am a teacher. (saya guru/Saya adalah seorang guru)

5. Your plan sounds good. (Rencanamu kedengarannya baik)

6. His face turned pale. (Wajahnya berubah pucat)

7. This food tasetes delicious. (Makanan ini rasanya/terasa enak0

8. John becomes angry. (John menjadi marah)

etc.

Note: The underlined words in the examples above are complements

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B. Object

1. My father reads a novel.

2. She is writing a letter .

3. I love my mother.

4. She bought a car.

5. I met him.

6. He teaches English .

etc.

Note: All the underlined words above are objects