Adjective complement is a noun or a prepositional phrase that adds to the meaning of

an adjective. It always follows the adjective it complements.

An adjective complement is connected to an adjective with a linking verb.

1. Susan is eager to know your birthday.

2. We’re happy that you are here with us tonight.
3. He is a difficult person to work with.

Commonly Used Adjective Complements

The best way to understand adjective complements is to show them in sentences.
Following are sentences with the adjective complement underlined. Remember, the
adjective precedes the adjective complement.
 She was hesitant to tell her parents.
 The boss was anxious to promote sales.
 Are you afraid of spiders?
 We were shocked by the news.
 I was delighted that she was chosen.
 He is likely to be nominated.
 The child was eager for Christmas to arrive.
 I am curious what color it is.
 It was wrong of her to go.
 I am happy they got married.
 We are all afraid that the storm will be severe.

Other Types of Complements

There are subject complements, object complements, and verb complements.

Subject Complement
Subject complements can be one or more words. They come after a linking verb, like: is,
are, was, become, seem, grow, taste, smell, and feel. Examples are:
 Whales are beautiful.
 She is the star.
 The food smells delicious.
 The flowers grow taller each day.
 I am on the roof.
Sometimes a verb can act as an adjective. An example is: “The crystals are not
completely formed.”

Object Complement
Object complements can also be one or more words. They follow a direct object and modify
it. They will describe the object or rename it. It can be a noun, an adjective, or a group of
words that act like a noun or adjective.
 Examples are:
 That should keep them happy.
 I knight you Sir Peter.
 The students were excited.

Other examples :

Subject and Object Complement:

1. My puppy is very mischievous.

2. The patient appears dehydrated and feverish.
3. The apple pie you made tastes sour.
4. My grandmother was rather forward thinking.
5. The British are fond of fish and chips.
6. The little girl painted her bedroom bright pink.
7. The preschoolers are coloring the trees purple and blue.
8. The jury declared the defendant guilty.
9. We voted her entry most original.
10. Studying grammar makes me happy.

Identify the subject complement of the following sentence.

1. This is a fine restaurant.
2. The Marliave Ristorante has always been my favorite one.
3. The prices at the Marliave seem reasonable and affordable.
4. The chefs are Esther DeFalco and her brother.
5. Their recipes are traditional.
6. The ingredients smell and taste fresh.
7. The pasta in their lasagna is homemade and light.
8. “Be careful when rolling out the pasta dough,” Esther says.
9. “The lasagna pasta must be paper-thin,” Vinicio points out.
10. For the DeFalcos, the making of pasta remains an art.