In this lecture I explain to you German verb complements. You will learn the difference between a complement and simple additional information. Of course I will show you the different types of verb complements as well.
What is a Verb Complement?
The conjugated verb requires complements so the sentence is a gramatically correct statement.
⇒ Things that are required = Complement
⇒ Things that you can leave out = Adjuncts (additional information)
A complement is the part of the sentence that is grammatically required. The sentence is incomplete and doesn´t make sense without it, or has another meaning.
For example: every verb needs a subject. The subject is always the nominative complement because the subject is grammatically required.
Only Exception: command form (imperative) can be used without complements: „Komm!“
Complements can be singular words, phrases, or an entire clause.
Complements are divided into the following groups:
- Nominative Complements
- Accusative Complements
- Dative Complements
- Genitive Complements (extremely rare)
- Prepositional Complements
Examples
⇒ „Der Mann“, „dem Kind“ and „den Ball“ are complements. Without them, the sentence doesn‘t make sense.
⇒ „jetzt“ is an adjunct because it just provides additional information
⇒ „Der Mann“ must be included in the sentence. Therefore, they are complements.
⇒ „mit einem Geschenk“ and „auf seine Tochter“ just provide additional information. You can leave them out.
More Lectures about Verb Complements
In the following lectures you will find all the information that you need to understand the different German verb complements. Verb complements tell you the case! That means you have to know them!
- Verbs with Nominative Complements
- Verbs with Accusative Complements
- Verbs with Dative Complements
- Verbs with Dative and Accusative Complements
- Verbs with Genitive Complements
- Verbs with Prepositional Complements
If you aren’t confident about cases and their declension go through the lectures about the German cases: Nominative, Accusative, Dative and Genitive.
Before going through the lecture about verbs with prepositional complements, you need to know about prepositions.
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