Complements
Subjective Complements
A subjective complement follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject. There are two kinds: a predicate nominative (a noun or pronoun that renames the subject) and a predicate adjective (an adjective that describes the subject).
The Backslash Separator
A backslash ( \ ) on the baseline separates the linking verb from its subjective complement. Unlike the direct-object separator (vertical, touching from above), the backslash leans right toward the complement — visually pointing from the verb to what follows it.
“One uncle is an attorney.”
Predicate Adjectives
A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject. It sits on the baseline to the right of the backslash, just like a predicate nominative — but it is an adjective, not a noun.
“Are you a good citizen?”
“The stranger was tall, dark, and handsome.”
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs connect the subject to its complement rather than expressing action. The most common is be (am, is, are, was, were, been). Others include:
- seem, appear, become, remain, stay — always linking
- feel, look, smell, sound, taste, grow, turn, prove, get — linking when they mean "become" or "seem"
“I am getting sick.”