Tense or mode/complement

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Hello Anon

The "subject complement" is a word or phrase that tells us more about the subject, e.g.

1. MrQ is a very strange fellow.

2. Juventus are top of the Italian football league.

The underlined portion tells us more about MrQ in the first example, and Juventus in the second.

Your examples aren't subject complements – they're statements (in the declarative mood). You could call the underlined portion a predicate, however, e.g. in your first sentence:

3. John bought the tickets.

MrP

Yes, but once he dropped the tickets, it can't be the prehensile mood anymore, can it?

Actually, I think #1 can be prehensive.

MrP sees MrQ in his front garden at midnight. MrQ is digging a large hole. "I always thought that MrQ was the epitome of normality," thinks MrP. "But now I realise that he's a very strange fellow indeed."

I'd call that the "prehensive" mood. But I can't think of a prehensive context for #2.

MrP

Thank you for the link.

I can see what you mean about #1. But if MrQ is the epitome of normality in the eyes of MrP, how can that digging be classified under the" prehensive mood"? His mood must have been elsewhere?

On the other hand, if the ball was well played by the football team, then the epitomy (does that word exist?) can be taken into account, and would justify the prehensive mood. (But was the ball well played? We'd need some context, I think...)