Questions tagged [complements]
The complements tag has no usage guidance, but it has a tag wiki.
100
questions
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Object or complement with “have”
Take the following sentence:
"He has blue eyes"
Does "blue eyes" act as an object or a complemet?
Would the answer be different in a sentence such as:
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Meaning and usage of Over
The following passage is from the dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro.
... as it's not over this that we disagree.
I can't understand its meaning and structure. I guess AS is BECAUSE and know ...
3
votes
1answer
66 views
Is 'to smoke' a complement or adjunct in this sentence?
I hope you are all well.
He stopped to smoke.
Is to smoke a complement of stop or is it an infinitive-of-purpose adjunct?
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Can 'smart home' and similar phrases be adjectives if followed by a noun, or do they become complements? [closed]
I'm having some confusion here as I've been tasked with checking that some texts fit a style guide for work, and it requires that two adjectives directly preceding a noun be hyphenated, e.g. 'well-...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
How to understand the “of somebody” part
It is recounted of Thomas Carlyle that when he heard of the illness of his friend, Henry Taylor, he went off immediately to visit him, carrying with him in his pocket what remained of a bottle of ...
1
vote
2answers
49 views
“They reported being told to…” Trying to explain
I have never really thought about this one before, but out of curiosity, is it grammatical to have "being" after the verb "report"? Here is an example:
"They reported being told to stay behind the ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Why aren't degree modifiers complements?
As far as I've been able to figure out, in the CaGEL* framework, complements are items that are licensed by some other element (generally the head), so that if an item has to be licensed, it is per ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
Function of PPs with predicative complements
According to CaGEL* (e.g. p.636 ff), prepositions can take predicative complements, as in
[1] She worked as a waitress
[2] He passed for dead
[3] I took you for granted
[4] They left him for ...
5
votes
2answers
133 views
What is the nature of, and syntactic distinction between, modifier and complement?
I am struggling to understand the syntactic relevance of the distinction between complement and modifier in theories such as the one presented in the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language by ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
CaGEL equivalent to obligatory adverbial?
When I learnt grammar in school, I was taught that there are optional and obligatory adverbials. Trying to understand grammar in the form presented by Huddleston and Pullum (e.g. the Cambridge Grammar ...
6
votes
1answer
190 views
How transitivity is defined in CGEL
This question is specifically for those who are familiar with the 2002
edition of The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language by Huddleston
and Pullum.
The book has this passage at ...
1
vote
1answer
77 views
Are these 'that'-clauses complements or adjuncts?
(1) It's a plan [that is being touted as the most modest proposal considered yet in Congress].
Here, the that-clause is a relative clause that modifies the antecedent 'plan', so I believe it's not a ...
5
votes
1answer
127 views
Determining licensing in CaGel by means of substitution test
I read a comment on licensing in another post, which made me revisit this concept. Unfortunately I haven't got access to CaGEL – only to its "little brother", Huddleston and Pullum's A Student's ...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
Indirect complement or postmodifier in NP
In the sentence
[1] He is the most talented artist (that) I know
what is (that) I know in terms of function – an indirect complement, licensed by most, or simply a common postmodifier? Why?
...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
“Far from happy” Preposition followed by an adjective?
It occurs me that in such sentences as
He is far from happy.
However, just as the critics are not of one mind in their criticism, so they are far from united on what to do.
the preposition ...
0
votes
3answers
181 views
What exactly falls under the label of “complement”?
There seems to be a lot of contradicting beliefs out there regarding complements and what they cover -- or maybe I am just confusing myself. However, I cannot seem to find an answer that I understand.
...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
The exit to or exit from a place?
New York Times article about restuarant employees blocking patrons from leaving the building:
One of the arresting officers, Anthony Sengco, wrote in his criminal
complaint that he observed Dr. ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
I am confused with usage about 'the' and object complement
Is the sentence as below correct in grammar? And is it clear enough?
Please copy & paste keyword, mykeyword, into the search box of Google
Play Store app or website to locate this pure app ...
5
votes
2answers
463 views
How to tell if something is a core complement or a non-core complement?
CaGEL on page 216 cite the following:
"Kim gave the key to Pat"
An NP indirectly related to the verb through the preposition is referred as an oblique. The phrase "to Pat" is a non-core ...
3
votes
1answer
482 views
What distinguishes a predicative complement from an object?
Asked this on ELL but with no answer:
What makes be an intransitive verb? How do we know that the analysis of It is me as transitive by tradtional grammars is incorrect?
Take for example:
1. I gave ...
6
votes
2answers
357 views
Similar adjectives to “worth”
This laptop is worth $140.
Here worth does not need a following preposition. However, when I say, for example:
I am curious about his motivation behind his decision.
The word curious is an ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
Is “I am who(m) God made me” grammatical?
SAH asked an interesting question about case, I am [who/whom] G-d made me, but one issue that came up in the comments repeatedly is that many people said that they find the example sentence ...
0
votes
1answer
271 views
Which is the direct object and which is the object complement in this sentence? [duplicate]
I was reading a book on English grammar and it stated that the object complement may also be an adjective. In the sentence "Roger called George heartless", Roger was the subject, called was the verb, ...
1
vote
0answers
191 views
Is there such a thing as the “indirect complement” of a noun?
CaGEL* explains the concept of "indirect complements" on page 443 as follows:
If it's the complement of a noun, be it direct or indirect, it's part of a noun phrase (NP) headed by the noun, right? So,...
1
vote
1answer
196 views
Is the definite/indefinite article a complement or a modifier of a noun?
The definite/indefinite article -- the/a(n) -- always comes before a noun and can never be used without a noun.
Is the definite/indefinite article a complement or a modifier of a noun?
1
vote
0answers
106 views
syntactic analysis of a phrase with FROM…TO
In the sentence
Everything we do, from eating and ice cream to crossing the Atlantic and from baking a loaf to writing a novel, involves the use of coal, directly or indirectly.
I can't come ...
0
votes
0answers
342 views
“the fact that…” grammatical construction
In the following sentence:
The issue is the fact that it is red.
What type of grammatical form is "that it is red"?
I think that it is some kind of noun clause that functions as an objective ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
lead to vs relocate
I read "lead many companies to relocate in rural areas (1)"
This is typo ?
We can make a complete sentence " The government leads many companies to relocate in rural areas "
I have a doubt that " ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
What is the function of “for more productivity” on this sentence?
rapid population increases drive the search for more productivity.
What is the function of "for more productivity"? is it a complement or an adverbial?
Thank you!
5
votes
3answers
971 views
Can prepositional phrases be subject complements?
I’m an ESL teacher without much formal training (at this stage). I have however Googled grammar questions many times and been redirected here, so this time I'm actually posting. I’m trying to explain ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Mckee believed WAS the Mary Rose Vs Mackee believed TO BE the Mary Rose [duplicate]
In 1967 , Edgerton's side-scan sonar systems revealed a large , unusually shaped object , which Mckee believed WAS the Mary Rose.
Shouldn't this be "Mackee believed TO BE the Mary Rose"?
Can ...
0
votes
1answer
111 views
not followed by to or ing
Take a look at this sentences:
1 I usually try not BE so rude.
2 I usually try not TO be so rude.
3 I usually try not BEING so rude .
4 All I need is TAKE a rest .
5 All I need is TO take a ...
3
votes
1answer
344 views
Is this an adverbial complement? “They led me _to believe that there was no danger_.”
I'm a novice who realised the existence of this site today. The following picture is from Idiomatic and Syntactic English Dictionary by A.S. Hornby:
Pattern 10
Verbs marked P 10 may be ...
2
votes
2answers
709 views
Participial Phrases As Objective Complement
Can a participial phrase be used as an objective complement? If so, is there a way to tell when the participial phrase is or is not used as an objective complement?
How would this sentence be ...
3
votes
3answers
584 views
Does “Predicate” includes object, complement and modifiers?
I'm currently studying the "Sentence Structure" for the English language. I've found varied information in this regard.
Some sources says that the sentence consist of five components: Subject + ...
1
vote
0answers
58 views
Is “with Trevor” in “dined with Trevor” adjunct or complement?
We dined with Trevor the following Monday.
I'm doing a test to figure out whether the constituent "with Trevor" is an adjunct or complement to the verb "dine". It is called the "did so" test as some ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
'I suppose the country can only properly be given to a child – as from birth it was given to me.' Does this sentence make sense?
In The Firstborn, British author Laurie LEE, famous for his autobiographical novel Cider with Rosie, wrote – about his newborn daughter Jessy:
I suppose the country can only properly be given to a ...
2
votes
1answer
366 views
What is the grammar structure? “I am not going to stand here watching you do it”?
Is this sentence correct?
I am not going to stand here watching you do it.
I saw it in an article. If it is - and I think it is - why is "watching" a gerund? What is the grammar structure? Is it a ...
2
votes
1answer
149 views
Use of “confess” when followed by interrogative clause (e.g. I confessed to my parents what I ate last night)
I am not a native speaker, but just wondering if you can use a non-why question as the embedding clause of confess.
a. I confessed to my wife why I started smoking again.
(Pretty sure this one ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
'Out to get me.'
"He was out to get me."
'Out' is not a verb, so 'He was out' looks like subject/linking verb/PA, except that quite plainly 'out to get me' carries the full meaning, because 'He was out' on its own ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
make it after 3 o'clock
I heard someone say "make it (the meeting) after 3 o'clock." To me, it sounded pretty idiomatic, but I was unsure as to the grammar of it.
"After three o'clock" is a prepositional phrase, then how ...
1
vote
1answer
657 views
Discontinuous noun phrase and apposition involving object complements
I was wondering whether these uses of discontinuity are valid. Here are two uses I would like to question:
The use of discontinuous noun phrase:
[1a] He made the system useless that could have ...
4
votes
1answer
315 views
Subject or subject complement
In the sentence "What is it that makes us happy?", is 'what' the subject or the subject complement?
Does 'that' refer back to 'it' or to 'What'?
0
votes
1answer
7k views
The difference between 'wish I will be' and 'wish to be'
For example:
I wish I will be an Engineer.
I wish to be an Engineer.
is there any difference between the two sentences?
5
votes
6answers
692 views
In structures such as 'football manager', is 'football' a modifier or a complement of the head noun?
I thought I'd post this as it illustrates a problem often encountered on ELU.
In structures such as 'football manager', is 'football' a modifier or
a complement of the head noun?
I've seen both ...
2
votes
1answer
330 views
Important to learn is this stuff
This song is fun to sing.
This pizza is too hot to eat.
Is the infinitive there considered a complement of the predicate adjective?
7
votes
3answers
745 views
Verb-Subject Order
Is it optional to front the verb in sentences like the one below when an adverbial precedes?
In the film, appear two more girls who think that Dallas is quite rude.
I have already checked the ...
1
vote
1answer
439 views
Gerund phrase…is it really?
Object of Preposition
Some people consider my interest in gardening an obsession. (The
gerund phrase is “gardening an obsession.”)
As I was searching around for the correct use of gerund ...
3
votes
2answers
711 views
Why can an adjective be placed after “eat” as in “garlic can be eaten raw”?
Edit note:
This question with some good answers does not explain (or ask) why it is an adjective that's used as opposed to an adverb in this type of construction:
Is this an objective complement or ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
To infinitive used after adjective
This question is relatively simple. I don't understand why we never use passive form of to infinitive after the adjective unless the subject is "it".
For example:
He is difficult to please.
...
