Level: B1-B2

Nouns as Subject Complements — Practice

Find the noun after a linking verb that renames or identifies the subject — also called a predicate nominative. Includes the simple “subject = complement” equal-sign test, examples with all the common linking verbs (is, was, became, seems, remains, has been, may be), and 40+ click-to-hear example sentences.

📝 Nouns unit · lesson 3 of 14 ⏱ about 10 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on Noun as the Subject Linking verbs Next in unit Direct Object →

Subject complements — quick guide

A subject complement is a noun (or adjective) that comes after a linking verb and renames or describes the subject. When the complement is a noun, it’s also called a predicate nominative.

Common linking verbs: be (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been), become, seem, appear, remain, stay, turn, prove, get.

My brother is a teacher. (teacher = subject complement; renames “my brother”)
The tall building became a museum.
She remains a loyal friend.

🎯 The “equal sign” test

Replace the linking verb with an equal sign (=). If both sides name the same person or thing, the noun after the verb is a subject complement.

My brother is a teacher. → my brother = a teacher ✓ → subject complement
She became a doctor. → she = a doctor ✓ → subject complement
She built a house. → she = a house ✗ → no, this is a direct object, not a complement

Watch out — don’t confuse with the subject. The SUBJECT comes before the linking verb; the COMPLEMENT comes after it. In Tom is the winner., Tom is the subject and winner is the complement.

Don’t confuse with the object complement either. A subject complement renames the SUBJECT (after a linking verb). An object complement renames the OBJECT (after an action verb like elect, call, name).

📖 Want the full explanation with linking verbs and all 7 noun functions? See English Nouns → Noun as a subject complement on the main grammar page.

How to use this page

🔊 Listen: click the speaker icon to hear the whole line read aloud.
Word audio: click any word to hear it spoken on its own.
🌐 Translate: choose a language then click the globe icon to open Google Translate.
☑️ Select & practice: tick the checkboxes to choose items, then print them, make a worksheet or flashcards, or start a quiz.

With “be” (is, was, were, am, are)
The tall man is a driver.
That strange sound was a bell.
The library is my favorite place to rest.
The calm voice on the phone was a mother.
The small room is an office.
The smiling man is a father.
The next speaker is a professor.
The next on stage is a singer.
Home is that small village by the sea.
The first name on the list is Peter.
The best player was Tom all along.
The winner was Sally after all.
Tom is the winner today.
Mike is my best friend.
The last in line may be a visitor.
The last in line was a worker.
That place was a school years ago.
That quiet voice was a child.
The bright star is a planet tonight.
With “become / became”
After long hours, he became a teacher.
The tall building became a museum.
After the meeting, she became a manager.
She became a doctor in the end.
He became a pilot overnight.
My sister became a teacher last year.
With “seem / appear”
The little boy seems to be a student.
A pilot seems to be his new role.
The calm boy seems a leader in the group.
The man in the suit appears to be a lawyer.
He seems to be a genius.
With “remain / stay / become”
Mike remains our top helper.
She remained a loyal friend through hard times.
The tadpole finally became a frog.
Our guide became a storyteller for a while.
With “has been / have been / used to be / may be / will be”
Mike has been my best friend since school.
She has been a teacher for ten years.
They have been our neighbors for years.
He used to be a driver.
She may be an artist in the future.
He will be a great leader one day.

Where to go from here