Chapter XXVI: Adjectives as Subjective Complements

=90.= In the sentences, (1) “The tomato is a fruit,” (2) “That tall boy is the winner of the race,” the base word of the subjective complement is a noun, because we wish to assert (1) class, (2) identity.

In the sentence, “The old gentleman’s face was serene and rosy,” the base words of the subjective complement are the two adjectives _serene_ and _rosy_, because we wish to assert the characteristics, or qualities, of the old gentleman’s face.

This is a very common use of the adjective, as seen in the familiar sentences, “Grass is green,” “Honey is sweet,” “Ice is cold.”

=91.= The verbs of being that were given in Lesson XXV,—_be_, _become_, _look_, _seem_, _appear_, _feel_, _smell_, _taste_, _sound_, and _grow_,—often take adjectives for subjective complements; as, “My head feels dizzy,” “This sentence sounds queer,” “Mary grew plump and strong.”

In some cases where the language affords no adjectives that exactly express the meaning, we use a prepositional phrase as subjective complement; as in the common expressions, “The house is _on fire_,” “The girl is _in love_,” “The man is _in debt_.” None of these phrases denote place, but each of them denotes a condition.

NOTE.—An adjective used as a subjective complement is often
modified by a prepositional phrase. If we say “The bin is
full,” somebody will ask “full of what?” If we say “full of
apples,” it is evident that the phrase _of apples_ modifies
_full_. We also say _glad of it_, _tired of play_, _wild with
joy_, _green with envy_, etc. These expressions are different,
however, from what we find in the sentence, “I was tired in the
evening,” where the phrase _in the evening_, denoting time,
modifies not the adjective _tired_, but the two words _was
tired_.

=Summary.=—An adjective, or a group of words of which an adjective is the base word, may be the subjective complement of an intransitive verb.

=Exercise.=—Select all the intransitive verbs of being in the following sentences. Find their subjects and their complements, and the base words of each. Analyze sentences 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15.

1. The sting of a bee is sometimes deadly.

2. The woodchuck looked sulky, and scratched his nose
expressively.

3. The traveler’s limbs were numb, for the ride had been long
and wearisome.

4. She might be poor in purse and weak in body, this brave
young mother, but she was rich in hope and strong in spirit.

5. By the third day I felt too weak and sick to stir.

6. At these words the king grew purple in the face.

7. Conrad will keep quiet over his books.

8. Mary was beautiful, feminine in spirit, and lovely.
Elizabeth was talented, masculine, and plain. Mary was artless,
unaffected, and gentle. Elizabeth was heartless, intriguing,
and insincere.

9. Your grandfather looked very funny in his red nightcap, and
without his teeth.

10. Very few poetic people are good at arithmetic.

11. The garden at the back of the house was sweet with the
scent of newly blossomed lilacs and the freshness of young
grass.

12. Snow-white was the foam that flashed upward underneath the
curving prow.

13. Is not Little Annie afraid of such a tumult?

14. His mouth felt as dry and stiff and hard as a chip.

15. The people went nearly mad for joy.

=92.= A common error is the misuse of an adverb for an adjective as the subjective complement of a verb of being. We should say, “I feel _bad_, or _ill_, or _unhappy_” (not _badly_).

Another common error is the misuse of an adjective for an adverb as a modifier of a verb of action. We should say, “The child learns _easily_” (not _easy_).

If we wish to tell a quality or condition of the subject, we should use an adjective; as, “The oak leaves turned _brown_.” If we wish to tell the manner of an action, we should use an adverb; as, “The leaves turned _quickly_ this fall.”

=Exercise 1.=—Tell the part of speech of each italicized word in these sentences, and justify its use.

1. Mary dresses _neatly_ and always looks _charming_.

2. The children must keep _quiet_ to-night.

3. Stand _straight_ and breathe _deeply_.

4. Look at them _kindly_ and speak _gently_.

5. The old bishop looks _kind_ and _gentle_.

6. This pie tastes very _queer_.

7. Mother feels _uneasy_ if we are _out late_.

8. The boy seemed _nervous_ and felt _uneasily_ of his watch
chain.

9. Poor oil made the lamp smell very _disagreeable_.

10. All the doors stood _open_.

11. The air grew _cold steadily_.

12. Keep the box _carefully_ till I return.

=Exercise 2.=—Select the right word for each of the following sentences, and give your reason in each case:—

1. The light is so poor that I cannot see the picture (_plain_
or _plainly_).

2. I am frightened when she speaks (_cross_ or _crossly_) to me.

3. Sit with me so that you can hear (_good_ or _well_).

4. Does he always deal (_honest_ or _honestly_) with you?

5. The miser died (_miserable_ or _miserably_).

6. You came so (_sudden_ or _suddenly_) that I was taken by
surprise.

7. No wonder you fell, you move too (_quick_ or _quickly_).

8. How (_stylish_ or _stylishly_) she dresses.

9. I (_sure_ or _surely_) mailed the letter.

10. Next time I shall act more (_sensible_ or _sensibly_).

11. Money comes (_easy_ or _easily_) to him, and is soon gone.

12. I felt so (_bad_ or _badly_) that I cried.

13. I was ill yesterday, but I feel pretty (_good_ or _well_)
this morning.

14. All my rose bushes look (_fine_ or _finely_).