This worksheet breaks down how to identify subject complements and avoid confusing them with direct objects.

You're right to ask for a solution and explanation — but there’s a key point to clarify first.

The image you uploaded is not a “problem” to be solved. It is an instructional guide or lesson explaining the grammatical concept of the *subject complement*.

It teaches you how to:
1. Recognize a subject complement.
2. Distinguish it from a direct object.
3. Use subject pronouns correctly as subject complements.

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✔ So, instead of “solving” a problem, I will explain the core concepts in this lesson clearly and concisely.

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## 📘 What Is a Subject Complement?

A subject complement is a word (or group of words) that follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject of the sentence.

> 🔑 Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement

✔ Types of Subject Complements:

- Adjective → *She is happy.*
- Noun → *He became a doctor.*
- Pronoun → *It was she who called.*

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## 🔗 What Are Linking Verbs?

Linking verbs connect the subject to its complement. They do not show action.

📌 Two Main Categories:

#### 1. True Linking Verbs
These are forms of be and a few others:
> *am, is, are, was, were, has been, have been, had been, will be, etc., become, seem*

> 💡 Tip: If you can replace the verb with an equals sign (=) and the sentence still makes sense, it’s likely a linking verb.

Example:
*Brandon is a gifted athlete.* → Brandon = a gifted athlete ✔

#### 2. Verbs That Can Be Linking OR Action Verbs
> *appear, feel, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound, taste, turn*

> 💡 These verbs are linking only if they describe the subject — not if they show action.

Examples:
- *She feels sick.* → Linking (describes her state) → *She = sick*
- *She felt her forehead.* → Action (she touched it) → *Her forehead = direct object*

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## ❗ Don’t Mistake Subject Complement for Direct Object

This is the most common confusion!

| Feature | Subject Complement | Direct Object |
|--------|---------------------|---------------|
| Follows | Linking verb | Action verb |
| Answers | “What is the subject like?” or “What is the subject?” | “What did the subject do to?” |
| Test | Replace verb with “=” → still makes sense? | Replace verb with “=” → doesn’t make sense? |

Examples from the Image:

🔹 *Michelle felt sick.*
→ *felt* = linking verb → *sick* = subject complement → Michelle = sick ✔

🔹 *Michelle felt her forehead.*
→ *felt* = action verb → *her forehead* = direct object → She touched it ✘ (doesn’t make sense as “Michelle = her forehead”)

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## 👤 Use Subject Pronouns as Subject Complements

Even if it sounds strange, use the subject form of the pronoun after a linking verb.

> ✘ *It was him.* → Incorrect (object pronoun)
> ✔ *It was he.* → Correct (subject pronoun)

Why? Because “he” is renaming the subject “it.” Think: *It = he.*

> 🧠 Note: In informal speech, people often say “It was him,” but formally and grammatically, “It was he” is correct.

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## ✍️ Quick Practice (Based on the Lesson)

Let’s analyze one more example from the image:

> *Brandon becomes embarrassed when people compliment his skill.*

- Subject: Brandon
- Verb: becomes → linking verb (can substitute with “=”) → Brandon = embarrassed
- Subject Complement: embarrassed (adjective describing Brandon)

✔ So, “embarrassed” is the subject complement.

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## 🎯 Summary

- A subject complement tells us more about the subject.
- It comes after a linking verb.
- It can be an adjective, noun, or pronoun.
- To test: Try replacing the verb with “=”. If it makes sense → linking verb + subject complement.
- Don’t confuse it with a direct object, which follows an action verb.
- After linking verbs, use subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, they), even if it sounds odd.

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✔ You now understand the entire lesson! If you’d like, I can give you a short quiz to test your understanding. Just say the word!

Let me know if you want practice sentences or further clarification.