Mashele Kiswahili

Structural Syntax: Complementation Complement means "to complete," and complementation has to do with "completing the meaning" of a verb. Many times, verbs in English sentences are completed by constructions that are not just modifiers. Complementation is indicated in diagramming by labeling the grammatical tie between the verb and its complement with a C. But the situation with verbs is a little complicated. Structural grammar distinguishes five types of complementation, as follows. Direct Object, indicated in diagramming by C with DO. Example: The dog ate bones, where bones is said to be the direct object of ate. Direct Object and Indirect Object, indicated in diagramming by DO and IO, respectively, along with the obligatory C. Example: He gave her flowers, where flowers is said to be the direct object of gave, and her is said to be the indirect object of gave. Objective Complement, indicated in diagramming by C with OC. Example: It made him angry, where angry is said to be the objective complement of made. Retained Object, indicated in diagramming by C with RO. Example: She was given flowers, where flowers is said to be the retained object of was given. Subjective Complement, indicated in diagramming by C with SC. Example: He was angry, where angry is said to be the subjective complement of was. In considering complementation, it is important to remember that participles and gerunds, which function syntactically as adjectives and nouns, respectively, are still "verbals" and may take complements. The same is true of infinitives, which may function syntactically in various ways. Click on the links below for a detailed discussion of each of the five types of complementation, with examples of diagramming. DIRECT OBJECT DIRECT OBJECT + INDIRECT OBJECT OBJECTIVE COMPLEMENT RETAINED OBJECT SUBJECTIVE COMPLEMENT Click here to return to the list of grammatical ties. Click here to return to the "Syntax" home page.