Complements or adverbials after BE verb

Question

Hi:

Can adverbs, too, besides "adjectives" and nouns" function as complements?

I have some confusion about two different functions or elements in a clause structure: complements and adjuncts/adverbials.

For instance, is the word "outside" functioning as a complement or an adjunct in the following example?

-The children are outside.

As per my understanding, that's a complement in the sentence, since the "be" verbs take complements after them, and not adjuncts or adverbials.

BillJ · Accepted Answer

LaboriousHi: Can adverbs, too, besides "adjectives" and nouns" function as complements?

Yes: there are one or two verbs like "treat" and "word" that select a manner AdvP as complement. Additionally, AdvPs occur as complement to the verb "be" in its specifying sense:

He treated her appallingly. [comp of "treat"]

You'll have to word your reply very carefully. [comp of "word"]

The best way to cook it is very, very slowly. [comp of specifying "be"]

AdvPs also occur as complement to a small handful of prepositions:

There's no way they can treat us [except leniently]. (comp of "except"]

I didn't hear about it [until recently]. [comp of "until"]

LaboriousI have some confusion about two different functions or elements in a clause structure: complements and adjuncts/adverbials. For instance, is the word "outside" functioning as a complement or an adjunct in the following example? -The children are outside.

Adjunct is a much better term than adverbial. Complements have to be licensed (specifically permitted or required) by the head word, and in some instances certain phrases qualify as complements by virtue of being obligatory elements. By contrast, adjuncts require no such licensing, and they are always optional items.

A useful rule is: 'Obligatory elements are always complements: they are needed to syntactically complete the verb phrase; optional elements may be either complements or adjuncts'.

In your example, The children are outside, "outside" is obligatory and hence a complement. It's obligatory because if it is dropped the sentence becomes ungrammatical. Incidentally, I wouldn't call "outside" an adverb, since it can hardly be said to be modifying the verb. It's best analysed as a preposition that may have a noun phrase as complement or, as here, no complement at all.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

LaboriousCan adverbs, too, besides "adjectives" and nouns" function as complements?

Consider the following:

The children are good. 
The children are outside.

The first sentence has a subject complement.
The second, a verb complement.

Complements or adverbials after BE verb

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