complement

complement (utfylling): an element which completes a structure (phrase or clause). The complement of a preposition is the part of a prepositional phrase following the preposition (usually a noun phrase), e.g. in South Africa, at a higher level, by the end of next week. The complement of an adjective gives an essential specification of the meaning of the adjective, and is sometimes syntactically obligatory, e.g. afraid of the dark, eager to start, happy to have passed the exam.