Complements

EA18

Most adjectives in the German language are used without a complement i.e. without an object. For some adjectives though, a complement is obligatory. These adjectives are categorized according to the type and number of complements they may take.

adjectives without complements

allein, kinderreich, blau, dumm, faul, intelligent

Adjectives can take a dative object, an accusative object, a genitive object, a prepositional object or an obligatory adverbial as a complement.

adjectives with one complement	dative object
	jemandem treu sein
	accusative object
	jemanden/etwas wert sein
	genitive object
	einer Sache gewiss sein
	prepositional object
	auf jemanden/etwas angewiesen sein
	obligatory adverbial
	irgendwie gelaunt sein

A very small group of adjectives can have two complements, a dative object and a prepositional object.

adjectives with two complements	dative object and prepositional object
	jemandem bei etwas behilflich sein
	jemandem in etwas gleich sein
	jemandem für etwas dankbar sein