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Df2006 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

subject complement or direct object

In the following sentence:

'All she wanted was to survive.'

Is the phrase 'to survive' a subject complement or a direct object?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Generally, if the subject and the word/s in the object/subject complement position can trade places, it is a subject complement. To survive was all she wanted.

— Englishmaven

  • Generally, if the subject and the word/s in the object/subject complement position can trade places, it is a subject complement.
  • To survive was all she wanted.
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4 Answers
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Generally, if the subject and the word/s in the object/subject complement position can trade places, it is a subject complement.

To survive was all she wanted.
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Df2006 In the following sentence:'All she wanted was to survive.' Is the phrase 'to survive' a subject complement or a direct object?Thanks.
All (that) she wanted - a subject;
was - a linking verb;
to survive - a complement.
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Thank you for your quick answer.

I was also of the same opinion when I first read the sentence in question. But I was very surprised to find 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style' identifying 'to survive' as the direct object. So I just wanted to make sure.

Thanks again.



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Df2006 But I was very surprised to find 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style' identifying 'to survive' as the direct object
I would be surprised too. The linking verb does not take a direct object.
I think that they meant to write this sentence.

She wanted to survive.
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