headcomplement

Headcomplement refers to a phrase or word that modifies or completes the meaning of the headword of a phrase. In linguistic analysis, a phrase is typically understood to have a central element, the head, which determines the grammatical category of the phrase. The headcomplement then serves to provide further information or specification about this headword.

For example, in the noun phrase "the book on the table," "book" is the head, and "on the table" is a prepositional phrase functioning as a complement. This complement specifies which book is being referred to. Similarly, in the verb phrase "eat quickly," "eat" is the head, and "quickly" is an adverb acting as a complement, describing how the action of eating is performed.

Headcomplements can take various forms, including noun phrases, prepositional phrases, adjectival phrases, or even clauses. Their presence is often essential for the full meaning of the phrase. The concept of headcomplement is closely related to notions of argument structure and phrasal modification within the study of syntax. The specific types and functions of headcomplements can vary across different languages and grammatical theories.