Page 25 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book
P. 25

The words hamburgers and hot dogs are the compound
           subject in this sentence. A compound subject is composed of
           two or more nouns used as subjects. These nouns can be either
           singular or plural. They represent the things about which
           something is being said.

           In the next section, you will learn how nouns can express a
           different concept when they are in the company of another noun.




           1.10  When One Noun Is Not Enough:
           Subject Complements




                                    Example:
                                            The hamburger is the winner.
                        The results:
                       The hamburger
                       is the winner!
                                               Subject         Subject
                                                             Complement

           Fred found out what customers like best!

           In this example, the noun hamburger is the subject.
           The winner, another noun, is the complement that describes
           or renames the hamburger. It is called a subject complement
           because it gives more details about the subject hamburger.

                              A subject complement
                        describes or renames the subject.

               Example:
                      The hamburger         is      the winner.


                     Noun used as         Linking     Noun used as
                        Subject            Verb    Subject Complement

           The verb is links hamburger to winner. For that reason,
           it is called a linking verb. Linking verbs help to make a
           statement not by expressing an action, but by serving as
           a link between the subject and the subject complement.



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