Complement (definition)

A phrase that completes the meaning of a predicate or head. Complements are often obligatory.

• The book of poems (complement to a N)
• To the store (complement to a P)
• afraid of spiders (complement to an adjective)
• ate waffles (complement to a verb)

See Also

• Head (definition)
• Adjunct (definition)
• Argument (definition)
• Direct Object (definition)

External Links

The link below takes you away from the Gaelic Wiki to Wikipedia. Since wikipedia pages can be edited by anyone, they often contain inaccurate information. So be careful!

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complement_(linguistics)
• http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsAComplement.htm

References

Carnie, Andrew (2006) Syntax: A Generative Introduction 2nd Edition. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.