Complement - a word, phrase, or clause that is necessary to complete the meaning of a given expression.
Complements help add meaning or a story to the subject and verb of a sentence, for example.
There are five types of Complements:
Direct Object - The direct object receives the action of the verb and is usually a noun or pronoun. Tip: Ask yourself "Who" or "What" to identify the direct object in a sentence.
Billy drank lemonade. (Lemonade is the direct object)
Object Complement - An object complement follows and modifies or refers to a direct object. It can be a noun, pronoun, adjective, or phrase.
Billy painted his kitchen yellow. (Kitchen is the direct object. Yellow is the object complement)
Indirect Object - An indirect object comes between the verb and the direct object and answers the question "to whom?" or "for whom?"
Billy passed Joey the lemonade. (Lemonade is the direct object. Joey is the indirect object)
Predicate Adjective - A predicate adjective is an adjective that comes after a linking verb to describe the subject, answering the question "what?" Linking verbs are verbs like: to be, feel, remain, taste, stay, etc
The juice tasted sweet. (Sweet is the predicate adjective. Tasted is the linking verb)
Predicate Nominative - A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that also comes after the linking verb, but it renames the subject and answers the question "who?" or "what?"
That short man is my cousin. (Cousin is the predicate nominative)
References:
Kern, Jara. (2020). The Infographic Guide to Grammar. Adams Media
Venolia, Jan. (2001). Write Right! (4th ed.). Ten Speed Press