Complement vs Adjunct: Difference and Comparison

Complements are obligatory elements necessary for the grammatical completeness of a sentence, required by the main verb or predicate. Adjuncts, however, are optional elements that provide additional information about the action or state expressed in the sentence, offering extra details without being essential to its structure or meaning.

Key Takeaways

1. Complements are words or phrases that complete the meaning of a verb, providing necessary information; adjuncts are optional words or phrases that provide additional information without being required for grammatical correctness.
2. Removing a complement may result in an incomplete or ungrammatical sentence while removing an adjunct leaves the core meaning intact.
3. Complements answer questions like “who” or “what” regarding the verb, while adjuncts provide information about “when,” “where,” “how,” or “why.”

Complement vs Adjunct

Complement and adjunct are grammatical terms with distinct roles in a sentence. A complement is a word or phrase necessary to complete the meaning of a sentence, providing additional information about the subject or object. An adjunct, however, is an optional element that adds information but isn’t required for the sentence to be grammatically complete.

Adjunct and complement are similar in appearance, but their functionalities have relative differences. The line to separate Adjunct and addiction can be a little vague.

In general usage, an adjunct is an appendage. It can be something attached to something else in a secondary capacity. When used as a noun, a complement is used as a counterpart, something that is added that makes a sentence whole.

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Comparison Table

Complement vs. Adjunct

Feature	Complement	Adjunct
Function	Completes the meaning of a verb, adjective, or another noun	Adds additional information to a sentence but is not essential for its grammatical completeness
Grammatical Role	Can be essential (completes the predicate) or non-essential (can be removed without affecting the sentence’s meaning)	Non-essential (can be removed without affecting the sentence’s meaning)
Sentence Structure	Can be directly linked to the word it complements (e.g., with a preposition or a linking verb)	Less directly linked to the rest of the sentence (e.g., through phrases or clauses)
Examples	* “She wears a red dress.” (Red dress complements the verb “wears”.) * “The book is interesting and informative.” (Interesting and informative complement the adjective “book”.) * “He is a doctor by profession.” (Doctor is a complement identifying the speaker’s profession.)	* “I went to the store yesterday.” (Yesterday is an adverbial adjunct providing additional information about the time of the action.) * “The house, located on the hill, has a beautiful view.” (Located on the hill is a participial phrase acting as an adjectival adjunct modifying “house”.)

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What is Complement?

Subject Complements:

Subject complements are elements that follow a linking verb (such as “be,” “become,” “seem,” etc.) and provide additional information about the subject. They serve to describe, rename, or identify the subject.

Example:

• Mary is a doctor. (In this sentence, “a doctor” is a subject complement, describing Mary.)

Object Complements:

Object complements, on the other hand, follow and modify a direct object. They provide further information about the object, completing its meaning.

Example:

• They elected him president. (Here, “president” is the object complement, providing additional information about “him.”)

 

What is Adjunct?

Characteristics of Adjuncts:

1. Optional Elements: Adjuncts can be added to a sentence without altering its core grammatical structure. They are not obligatory components and can be omitted without rendering the sentence ungrammatical.
2. Modularity: Adjuncts can be moved around within a sentence or even omitted entirely without affecting the fundamental meaning. This modularity underscores their non-essential nature.
3. Versatility: Adjuncts can serve various functions within a sentence, such as indicating time, location, manner, reason, or degree. Their versatility allows for rich and nuanced expression in language.

Roles of Adjuncts:

1. Providing Additional Information: Adjuncts offer supplementary details that provide further context or description to the main clause of a sentence. For example, in the sentence “She walked slowly,” the adjunct “slowly” provides additional information about the manner of the action.
2. Enhancing Clarity and Precision: Adjuncts can clarify or specify certain aspects of a sentence, helping to convey the intended meaning more precisely. They contribute to the richness and depth of expression in language.
3. Expressing Relationships: Adjuncts indicate relationships between different elements within a sentence, such as temporal relationships (e.g., “after dinner”), spatial relationships (e.g., “on the table”), or causal relationships (e.g., “due to the rain”).

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Main Differences Between Complement and Adjunct

1. Essentiality:
   • Complements are obligatory elements required for the grammatical completeness of a sentence.
   • Adjuncts are optional elements that provide additional information but are not essential for the sentence’s grammatical structure.
2. Relationship to Verbs:
   • Complements relate directly to the main verb or predicate in a sentence.
   • Adjuncts do not directly relate to the main verb or predicate; instead, they provide additional information about the action or state expressed in the sentence.
3. Obligatory vs Optional:
   • Complements are obligatory and cannot be omitted without altering the sentence’s core meaning or grammaticality.
   • Adjuncts are optional and can be omitted or rearranged without fundamentally changing the sentence’s meaning or grammaticality.
4. Function:
   • Complements complete the meaning of the verb or predicate by providing essential information about the subject or object.
   • Adjuncts provide additional details about the action or state expressed in the sentence, enhancing its meaning or providing context but not essential for its grammatical completeness.

References

1. https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/adjuncts.htm
2. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/adjuncts

Last Updated : 05 March, 2024