EXERCISE XII.

Copula. Complement.-Object.

TO TEACHER AND PUPIL: A clear understanding of the nature of the copula verb and the complements used with it to form complete predicates is absolutely necessary in order to grasp the meaning of the sentence.

A copula verb is a verb that merely asserts an attribute of a noun. It joins together in logical union the subject and the predicate of a proposition.

In every proposition there are three terms,-the subject, the verb, and the predicate. The subject is the person or the thing about which something is asserted; the predicate is the thing or the quality that limits the subject; the verb is the word that asserts. In the proposition, "The apple is nutritious," the word apple is that about which something is asserted, hence it is the subject; nutritious is the quality affirmed of the apple, hence it is the predicate; is, is the asserting word, the word that joins the predicate to the subject, hence it is the copula.

The complement of a copulative verb is the word, phrase, or clause that completes the meaning of the verb. Complements are of two kinds,-adjective complements and noun complements.

An adjective complement is an adjective-term used with a verb to complete its meaning; as, 1. He is sick. 2. He seems happy. 3. She is in poor health.

A noun complement is a noun-term used with a verb to complete its meaning; as, 1, He is a good man. 2. It is a tree. 3. He is to improve. 4. The home is wherever the heart is. 5. The belief is that the soul is immortal.

NOTES.-I. The phrase-form of the complement may be any phrase which is the equivalent of a predicate adjective; as, He is in misery-he is miserable. He is at liberty-he is free. Time is of great value-time is valuable. But not all phrases which follow the verb to be, are complement terms; as, He is in Texas (adv.). The work done by the phrase in the special sentence must determine whether it is a complement-term or an adverb-term.

II. The clause-form of the substantive complement of a copulative verb may be any clause that does the work of a noun; as, The fact is that he came. The question is how can he be saved. The condition is if the enemy attempt to cross the river. The point is what is to be done first. The home is wherever the heart is.

III. The adjective complement denotes a quality conception; as, John is happy. Sugar is sweet. The noun complement denotes an object conception; as, It is a horse. Elizabeth was queen.

IV. The verb-form always embraces two distinct constituents,- copula, complement. In attributive verbs, both of these parts are incorporated into one word. Attributive verbs not only assert, they indicate what is asserted; as, He walks—he is walking.

V. When the attribute is an action, it blends with the verb and both are used as one word; as, The boy is running. He was killed. The field was ploughed. When the copula is combined with the present participle, the two constitute the progressive form of the verb; when combined with the past participle, they constitute the passive voice form of the verb.

VI. Sometimes the copula and complement do the work of a single verb; as, I am of the opinion; that is, I believe.

VII. The copula may be a verb-phrase; as, He might have been chairman of the meeting. He should have been punished.

VIII. Many verb-phrases in the passive voice are used as copulas; as, He was elected chairman. He was considered honest.

The object of a transitive verb is the word or group of words which shows what the action expressed by the verb affects. It is always a noun-term. In form it may be a word, a phrase, or a clause; as, The mother loves her child. He likes to read. Columbus proved that the earth is round.

Unlike Uses of Complements and Objects.

TO THE TEACHER: The pupil should be trained to see at a glance the use of a grammatical term. A complement, whether a word, a phrase, or a clause, completes the verb by referring to the subject. An object, whether a word, a phrase, or a clause, completes the meaning of the verb by showing what the action expressed by the verb affects. A complement is an attribute, a descriptive element, logically an adjective. An object is a noun, a modifier of the verb, it limits the verb. A few illustrations will make these facts clear.

Complements: 1. It is I. 2. It is she. 3. The milk is sour. 4. He is dead. 5. She is in poor health. 6. The coin is of value. 7. John seems to be angry. 8. He is in much pain. 9. To love is to live. 10. Seeing is believing. 11. The home is wherever the heart is. 12. Your friend is whoever needs your help. 12. The belief is that he is guilty.

Objects: 1. He saw me. 2. I saw her. 3. I like him. 4. He loves to study. 5. She learned to think. 6. He said, “Come here, John." 7. I believe that every one is the architect of his own fortune.

In the following sentences the pupil will pick out (1) the verb-term; (2) the complement or object; (3) if the verbterm is completed by an attribute (complement), he will show that it refers to the subject; (4) if the verb-term is completed by an object (complement), he will explain that it shows what the action expressed by the verb affects.

1. He is industrious.

2. She seems impatient.

3. He seeks fame.

4. The teacher said, "To-morrow I shall explain this principle more fully.'

5. He is in doubt.

6. God said, "Let there be light."

7. His purpose was to surprise the enemy.

8. John became studious.

9. Learn to economize the value of time.

10. Franklin said, "Take care of your dimes, dollars will take care of themselves."

11. Believe that man is immortal.

12. To purloin is to steal.

13. Another mistake in relation to happiness is that we make provision only for the present world.

14. That letter is h.

15. The question is, who will put the bell on the dog.

16. "Talent is something, but tact is everything.''

17. The tree is tall.

18. He was my friend.

19. He ordered the soldiers to march.

20. The order was to march at once.

21. To obey is to enjoy.

22. His desire is to obey.

23. He likes to obey.

24. The velvet feels smooth.

25. I am in a hurry.

Test Questions.-Sentence-Making.

1. What is meant by the word copula in grammar?

2. In what important respect does a copula verb differ from an attributive verb ?

3. In how many ways may the complement of a verb refer to the subject of the sentence?

4. What does the adjective complement denote ?

5. In each of three simple sentences, use a different adjective complement, word-form.

6. In each of two simple sentences, use an adjective complement, phrase-form.

7. What does a noun complement denote?

8. In the first of three sentences, use a noun complement, word-form; in the second, a noun complement, phraseform; in the third, a noun complement, clause-form.

9. In the first of three sentences, use a noun-term, wordform, as the object of a verb; in the second, use a nounterm, phrase-form, as the object of a verb; in the third, use a noun-term, clause-form, as the object of a verb.

10. Introduce an adjective complement with in, with of. 11. Introduce a noun complement, clause-form, with that, with where, with how.

12. Use as objects of verbs clauses introduced by that, where, with, how.

13. In each of three sentences, use a different attributive verb, and show that each verb is equal in meaning to copula and complement.

14. Show that the complement of a copula verb is the significant predicate element.

15. State the difference between the noun complement of a copulative verb and the object of a transitive verb.