Can you explain what a subject complement does in a sentence? Many of us can't. People often confuse the word complement with a compliment, something nice you say to someone. But the two words have quite different meanings.

What is a subject complement?

A complement (spelled with an e) is something that completes. And a subject complement is something that completes our idea of the subject of a sentence by giving us more information about it. Usually, the subject complement is a noun, a pronoun or an adjective.

Where is a subject complement found?

A subject complement is found in the predicate of a sentence (the part of the sentence that contains the verb and makes a statement about the subject). The subject complement follows a linking verb (a verb that expresses a state of being, such as be, become or seem). A verb of being is called a linking verb because it simply links the subject with the subject complement.

In a sentence with a linking verb and a subject complement, the subject is not doing anything; instead, the subject is being something. Here are some examples:

• Jan is an excellent doctor.
  (linking verb: is; subject complement: noun phrase an excellent doctor)

Here, the noun doctor (along with its modifiers an excellent) tells us something about the subject Jan; the verb is simply links them without expressing any action.

• The winners of the bubble-tea-drinking contest are you and Wang.
  (linking verb: are; subject complements: pronoun you and noun Wang)

In the above example, the subject complements you and Wang identify the subject winners; the verb are simply links them without expressing any action.

• Arabella's recipe for turnip cordial tasted unusual.
  (linking verb: tasted; subject complement: adjective unusual)

Here, the subject complement unusual describes the subject recipe; the verb tasted simply links them without expressing any action.

Besides the verbs in our examples, there are several more linking verbs that can link a subject and a subject complement. The verbs seem, appear, become, grow, look, feel, sound and smell can all act as linking verbs.