Noun complement is information that completes the meaning of a name - noun, adjective or adverb - contained in the sentence.
Nominal complement examples
- Fried foods are bad to the liver. ("to the liver" completes the sense of the adjective "evil")
- we are looking forward with your arrival. ("with your arrival" completes the meaning of the adjective "anxious")
- does anyone have news her? ("her" completes the sense of the noun "news")
- Stay close of me. ("from me" completes the meaning of the adverb "near")
- loud music is bad to the ears. ("to the ears" completes the sense of the adverb "evil")
- were radiant with your notes. ("with your notes" completes the meaning of the adjective "radiant")
The noun complement can be represented by a subordinate clause noun noun complement:
- I have hope that they attend. ("that they attend" completes the sense of the noun "hope")
- I'm afraid he comes to the conclusion that I already knew. ("of what I already knew" completes the sense of the noun "conclusion")
Nominal complement and verbal complement
Nominal complements are always followed by a preposition, just like the indirect object (this, a verbal complement).
Thus, it is important not to confuse these two terms. While the function of the noun complement is to complete the sense of a noun, the function of the indirect object is to complete the sense of a verb.
Examples:
- Children are afraid of the dark. ("of the dark" is the nominal complement of the noun "fear")
- I already gave the gift to my father. (“To my father” is a verbal complement, as it is the indirect object of the verb “to give”: I gave it to my father. "The present" is a direct object)
- Pay attention to the phone. ("on the phone" is a nominal complement to the adjective "attentive")
- I'm already talking to you. ("with you" is a verbal complement, as it is the indirect object of the verb "to speak")
Nominal complement and adnominal adjunct
It is important not to confuse the nominal complement with the adnominal deputy.
While the noun complement has the function of completing a noun, adjective or adverb, the adnominal adjunct characterizes a noun.
Examples:
- I hate the delay on the bus. ("of the bus" is a nominal complement, as it completes the meaning of the noun "delay")
- I haven't bought the Christmas presents yet. ("Christmas" is an adnominal adjunct, as it characterizes, distinguishes, the noun "gifts")
know more about Adjunct and nominal complement: what's the difference?
Exercises on nominal complement
1. (FMU) Em: Had great love the humanity / The streets were washed by the rain / He is rich in virtues. The highlighted terms are, respectively:
a) nominal complement, liability agent, nominal complement
b) indirect object, liability agent, indirect object
c) nominal complement, indirect object, nominal complement
d) indirect object, nominal complement, liability agent
e) nominal complement, nominal complement, nominal complement
Correct alternative: a) nominal complement, passive agent, nominal complement.
“to humanity” completes the meaning of the noun “love”, so it is a nominal complement;
“by the rain” is the agent of the passive, as it indicates who performed the action of washing the streets, whose verb is in the passive voice “were washed”;
“in virtues” completes the meaning of the adjective “rich”, so it is a nominal complement.
2. (UM-SP) In "There weren't such compatible words with your position", the highlighted term is:
a) nominal complement
b) indirect object
c) direct object
d) subject
e) agent of the liability
Correct alternative: a) nominal complement.
“With your position” is a nominal complement, as it completes the meaning of the adjective “compatible”.
It could not be a direct or indirect object, as it is not completing the meaning of a verb.
3. (FMU-FIAM-FAAM-SP) Identify the alternative in which a nominal complement appears.
a) Sanches was cold.
b) I was afraid of losing him.
c) Expressed himself briefly.
d) The case was different.
e) Maneuvered, then, to return, to the charge.
Correct alternative: b) I was afraid of losing him.
“of losing it” is a nominal complement, as it completes the meaning of the noun “fear”.
As for the remaining alternatives:
a) Sanches was cold. “cold” is predicative of the subject, as it is attributing a quality to the subject “Sanches”;
c) Expressed himself briefly. “briefly” is an adverbial adjunct of manner, as it modifies the meaning of the verb “to express”;
d) The case was different. “other” is predicative of the subject, as it is attributing a quality to the subject “case”;
e) Maneuvered, then, to return, to the charge. “to cargo” is a verbal complement, as it completes the meaning of the verb “to return”.
Read too: Nominal complement exercises