Object Complement vs. Subject Complement

Attribute	Object Complement	Subject Complement
Position in sentence	Follows the direct object	Follows the linking verb
Function	Completes the meaning of the direct object	Completes the meaning of the subject
Types	Can be a noun, pronoun, adjective, or adverb	Can be a noun, pronoun, adjective, or adverb
Examples	I consider him a friend.	She is a doctor.

Definition

Object complement and subject complement are both types of complements in a sentence that provide additional information about the subject or object. An object complement follows and modifies the direct object of a sentence, while a subject complement follows and modifies the subject of a sentence.

Position in a Sentence

One key difference between object complement and subject complement is their position in a sentence. An object complement typically comes after the direct object and is often introduced by a linking verb such as "be" or "become." For example, in the sentence "I consider him a friend," "a friend" is the object complement that follows the direct object "him." On the other hand, a subject complement comes after the subject and is also introduced by a linking verb. In the sentence "She is a doctor," "a doctor" is the subject complement that follows the subject "She."

Function

Object complements serve to provide more information about the direct object in a sentence. They can describe or rename the direct object, adding depth and detail to the sentence. Subject complements, on the other hand, provide more information about the subject. They can describe or rename the subject, helping to clarify its role or identity in the sentence.

Types of Object Complements

There are two main types of object complements: objective complements and subjective complements. Objective complements describe the direct object and are usually nouns or adjectives that follow the direct object. For example, in the sentence "I painted the wall blue," "blue" is the objective complement that describes the direct object "wall." Subjective complements, on the other hand, describe the direct object from the perspective of the subject. They are often introduced by linking verbs such as "consider," "name," or "make." For example, in the sentence "I consider him a friend," "a friend" is the subjective complement that describes the direct object "him."

Types of Subject Complements

Similar to object complements, there are also two main types of subject complements: predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives. Predicate nominatives rename the subject and are usually nouns or pronouns that follow a linking verb. For example, in the sentence "She is a teacher," "teacher" is the predicate nominative that renames the subject "She." Predicate adjectives, on the other hand, describe the subject and are usually adjectives that follow a linking verb. For example, in the sentence "He seems happy," "happy" is the predicate adjective that describes the subject "He."

Examples

Here are some examples to illustrate the differences between object complement and subject complement:

• Object Complement: "I consider her a mentor." (her = object complement)
• Subject Complement: "She became a doctor." (doctor = subject complement)

Conclusion

In conclusion, object complement and subject complement are both important elements in a sentence that provide additional information about the subject or object. While object complements describe or rename the direct object, subject complements describe or rename the subject. Understanding the differences between these two types of complements can help writers and speakers construct clear and effective sentences.