verb complement

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hanuman_2000
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verb complement

Post by hanuman_2000 »

Sir,

What is a verb complement?


His greatest pleasure is to sing.

here "to sing" is verb complement.

Thanks.
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Alan
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Post by Alan »

Yes, although 'complemental infinitive' is a less ambiguous term.
hanuman_2000
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complement

Post by hanuman_2000 »

Sir,

I am re-writing my sentence

His greatest desire is to sing.


Here the 'to sing' is describing the noun desire.

So "to sing' functions here as subject complement.

is it correct?

Thanks.
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Alan
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Post by Alan »

As explained elsewhere, the terms 'subject complement' and 'verb complement' (i.e. in the sense 'complement TO a verb') are not mutually exclusive. Where the verb is a form of the copula, one complement will usually be both.
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