Mostly, the head noun in a noun phrase is followed by a complement or modifier or both. A complement is a phrase or clause that usually occurs directly after the head noun and is necessary for completing the meaning of the noun. Particularly, it supplies necessary information that helps know what the noun is referring to. The significance of a complement in a noun phrase is that it clarifies the meaning of head noun. Moreover, it frequently provides additional context or contextual details about the head noun. Thus, command at the proper use of complements after the head noun in noun phrases is essential for expressing complete ideas the advanced academic writing.
Normally, abstract nouns (nouns which represent a concept or idea) take complements after them because a complement explains what that abstract noun (idea) relates to. For example:
We like the perfection of his bowling skill.
In this example, the perfection is an abstract noun and is complemented by the phrase of his bowling skill. When the perfection (the noun) and of his bowling skill are taken together, they stay as one complete single idea or thought.
The complements that are mostly required by nouns can come in the form of prepositional phrase, content (that) clause or infinitive (subordinate) clause.
1. Prepositional Phrase Complements
The prepositional phrase that performs as a complement of an NP (derived from verb) is obligatory because the noun has no meaning without it. For example:
the shortage of financial resources, a paucity of reliable data, a dearth of new ideas, the advent of the steam engine, the feasibility of the proposal, a piece of paper, their effort for success, their interest in business, his association with publishers, etc.
As shown in the noun phrases given above, i.e. in the areas such as knowledge generation (academic research), social advancement, economic development, technical progress, etc., the nouns mostly precede a PP headed by of.
An abstract noun’s requirement for a complement is similar to that of a transitive verb which requires an object. However, it is necessary to indicate what the noun relates to. The nouns which mostly require complements are: reason, belief, need, criticism, idea, thought, perfection, etc. In common sentences, transitive verbs take objects after them. But, when these verbs are turned into nouns (nominalization, i.e., they become derived nouns), they license complements instead of objects. The complement of a derived noun has the form of a prepositional phrase that corresponds to the object of the verb. For example:
| Verb + Object | Nominalization + PP as Compliment |
| a. He endorsed my views. | b. his endorsement of my views |
| a. She acknowledged her mistake. | b. her acknowledgement of her mistake. |
| a. Shaheen adopted Naveed. | b. Shaheen’s adoption of Naveed |
| a. Karim married Saima | b. Karim’s marriage to Saima. |
| a. Kabir struggled to know the secret. | b. Kabir’s struggle to know the secret |
Usually, the preposition of stays after nominalization as the head of the prepositional phrase. However, at times, other prepositions can also come as to in [iv b]. In addition, subordinate clauses can also follow the nominalizations as in (v b).
Sometimes, the particular head nouns (derived from verbs) require or license dependents in the form of PPs as their complements. These complements correspond either to object or subject NPs in a clause structure. The case of object (NPs) as a complement has been presented in the above table. The correspondence of complements with a subject can be shown as follows:
| Subject + Verb | Noun + PP Complement |
| a. The pilgrims departed. | b. the departure of the pilgrims |
| a. The enemy attacked. | b. an attack by the enemy |
| a. The students danced. | b. a dance by the students |
The pp complements that correspond to subject can also combine with one pp complement that correspond to the object in a clause as shown below:
| Subject + Verb + Object | Noun + PP Compl- (obj) + PP Compl- (subj) |
| a. The president opened the ceremony. | b. The opening of the ceremony + by the president. |
| a. The attendant cleared the table. | b. The clearance of the table + by the attendant. |
The PP complements that correspond to the object in a clause with the derived noun can also stay in the form of a genitive NP as shown below in the box:
| Subject + Verb + Object | Genitive NP + PP Compl – (Subject) |
| a. The president opened the ceremony. | b. The ceremony’s opening by the president. |
| a. The attendant cleared the table. | b. The table’s clearance by the attendant. |
An important point to note here is that the same noun in different contexts can take prepositional complements with different prepositions. For example:
- There is no advantage in purchasing books in this digital age.
- The advantage of an advanced education is always significant.
- Saleem’s only advantage over his colleagues is his communication ability.
2. Content (subordinate) Clause Complements
A content (that) clause complement provides an essential information for completing the meaning of the head noun in a noun phrase. For example:
- I do not like the idea that the players leave for their homes in this hotness.
- The fact that the employees of this office are not properly paid is always neglected.
In examples (a & b), that clauses are the complements that specify or inform what the “idea” “fact” are.
The head nouns that take that (content) clause are of two types. One sort of nouns are used to express thoughts, ideas, or information, e.g. truth, fact, idea, news, hint, story, thought, belief, reason, etc. The others are used to report or relay information about someone’s claim or statement, e.g. claim, remark, comment, statement, agreement, etc.
It is important to note that when a content clause follows a thinking or communication or reporting noun, that cannot be removed. For example:
- It is his belief that loyalty pays back.
- *It is his belief loyalty pays back.
3. Infinitive Noun Complement
An infinitive noun complement plays the role of a noun and provides information about the head noun in a noun phrase. For example:
- There is no need for you to explain. (infinitive)
- Sabir’s effort to win the competition was really great.
There are three types of nouns that commonly take infinitive as their complement.
- Desire or Intention Nouns: desire, choice, decision, intention, plan, etc.
- Agreement or Disagreement Nouns: agreement, refusal, objection, permission, etc.
- Chance or opportunity Nouns: chance, opportunity, occasion, possibility, etc.
A noun (derived from a verb or an adjective) may take a finite or non-finite subordinate clauses as complements. For example:
| Finite subordinate clause complements | Non-finite subordinate clause complements |
| a. the consideration that he was competent | a. her competence to gather the required money |
| b. an opinion that he is faithful | b. his eagerness to take this high stake test |
4. Indirect Complements
Sometimes, NPs precede the indirect complements. These complements are called indirect complements because these are not licensed or required by the head noun. For example:
- They had to bear [more expenditure than they had expected].
- He made [so high jump that the audience were completely astonished].
- It was [too complicated a situation for us to deal with].
In the above examples, the words in bold are NPs and the words in italics are indirect complements. In example [a], the complement is licensed by the comparative adjective more. Without this comparative adjective (more), the NP (expenditure than they had expected) goes ungrammatical. In the same way, in [b], the complement is licensed by so, that modifies ‘high jump’. In three [c], the complement is licensed by too. In this case we can drop ‘too complicated’ and no ungrammaticality arises. However, the interpretation of the infinitival clause (to deal with) will be changed dramatically. When the words ‘too complicated’ are present, the clause (to deal with) is interpreted as the situation that was too difficult to be dealt with. But without the words ‘too complicated’, the interpretation is that it is our duty to deal with this situation.
5. Position of Complements in a Sentence
The noun complements may be in the form of a prepositional phrase, a content clause, or an infinitive, and they stay as a part of the noun phrase. However, this phrase may be in the position of subject or object of the verb or object of the preposition. For example:
- Shaheen mentioned that the domestic chores were not being attended to.
- By mentioning that the domestic chores were not being attended to, Shaheen sensitized his wife.
- Shaheen’s wife listened tiredly when he mentioned that the domestic chores were not being attended to.
It is not that nouns and their complements stay always together. Sometimes, a noun and its complement may be separated by some parenthetical information (e.g., a dependent clause). If this is the case, the complement becomes an appositive, rephrasing a noun instead of complementing the subject or object as the case may be.
a. Shaheen explained his idea, which he had been considering for weeks, that the domestic chores were not being attended to.
Such separation better be avoided because this mode separates the noun from its crucial information and turns the construction clumsy. So better, the nouns and their complements stay together.
In essence, the provision of noun complements, i.e., prepositional phrases, that (content) clauses, and to-infinitive clauses in a sentence is highly significant. The significance of these elements is that these help specify the head noun’s content, traits, or purpose. Besides, through this role they enhance the overall meaning and clarity of the sentence.
