Subject complements

A subject complement gives us more information about the subject. It usually comes after linking verbs and sense verbs (including be, seem, smell, taste), and after change of state verbs (including go, get, become).

Subject complements: parts of speech

Subject complements can be adjective phrases, noun phrases, adverb phrases or prepositional phrases:

That rice tastes quite sweet. (subject + adjective phrase)

It seems a long time since this morning. (subject + noun phrase)

A:
Where are you?

B:
I’mupstairs. (subject + adverb phrase)

It still smells of paint in here. (subject + prepositional phrase)

Subject complements are not the same as objects.

Compare

He marrieda famous writer.	a famous writer is a different person = the object
He becamea famous writer.	become is a linking verb; a famous writer describes the subject = the same person as he

Complements and adjuncts are different. A complement is necessary in order to complete the meaning. An adjunct is not necessary, and adds extra information.

Pronouns as subject complements

When we use a pronoun as a subject complement after be, we usually use an object pronoun (e.g. me, him, us):

The dog barked before we even came to the door. He knew it was us.

Not: He knew it was we.

You know the girl I was telling you about? Well, that’s her over there.

Not: Well, that’s she over there.

In some formal contexts we use the subject pronoun (e.g. I, he, they, we):

I can’t exactly remember whether it was he who asked me to go with them. (less formal: … whether it washimwho …)