Complement Definition

A complement is the part of a Sentence that comes after the Verb and is needed to make the sentence complete. The following are the most important types of complement used in English:

SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

Eg: He's a surveyor. (The Subject is completed by the complement to the verb. This is a Copula Verb.

OBJECT COMPLEMENT

Eg: She sent him the fax. (The sentence is completed by telling us what she sent to him.)

ADJECTIVAL COMPLEMENT

Eg: They'll be happy. (The sentence is completed by the Adjective; this could be extended further, they'll be happy to see us, etc..)

PREPOSITIONAL COMPLEMENT

Eg: They talked about what needed doing. (The sentence is completed by the Phrase linked to the verb by the Preposition.)