Predicate 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.

1. The predicate
   
2. The subject
   
3. The complements
   
   1. The direct object
      
   2. The indirect object
      
   3. The predicative complement
      
   4. The oblique complement
      
4. Modifiers (Adjuncts)
   

  ← Indirect Object        ↑ Phrases          → Oblique Complement