The Predicative Complement

The Predicative Complement Test for identifying predicative complements in English A predicative complement follows a 'linking verb' (copula verb)

• • This is [a good idea]pred.comp.

Pat will always remain a good friend. The committee elected John [chairman]pred.comp. Pat considered Kim [a genius]pred.comp. Passivization: A predicative complement cannot be passivized:

• A genius was considered Kim by Pat. (compare with passivization of the direct object: Kim was considered a genius by Pat.)

Categories and structural position The predicative complement can be any major phrase (NP, AP, PP, VP) The predicative complement is a sister to V and a daughter to VP. If there is a direct object, the predicative complement follows the direct object. Example:

             _S_
            /   \
           /     AuxP
          /     /    \
       subj    /   __VP___
        /     /   /       \
       /     /   /        pred.comp
      /     /   /           \
    NP   Aux   V      _______NP________
   /__\   |    |     /_________________\
   Pat  will become  president of the US.