Definition & Bedeutung von "complement"

What is a "complement"?

A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of a verb, adjective, or noun in a sentence. Complements provide essential information that clarifies or specifies the subject or object. There are several types of complements, including subject complements, which follow linking verbs and describe or identify the subject, as in "She is a teacher," where "a teacher" complements the subject "She." Object complements, on the other hand, follow and provide more information about a direct object, as in "They elected him president," where "president" complements the direct object "him." Understanding complements is important for grasping how different elements in a sentence work together to convey complete ideas.