@mcook,
mcook wrote:
Suppose this is a question on a quiz: Who ate the chocolate?
Is "Robert did" a complete sentece?
And why doesn't something like "Robert ate" work?
Thanks.
"Robert did" is a complete sentence, but only because it's an answer to a question. Otherwise, you'd need to fill out the complement. It's also possible to say "Robert ate" in a different context. In the answer to this question, though, the verb becomes transitive. It needs an object.
Here's a quick thing about transitive vs intransitive verbs:
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs
One-word complete sentences are also possible, if it's a command and the subject is implied by context. "Eat!"