Understanding object complements is crucial for mastering English grammar, particularly in constructing complex sentences. An object complement provides additional information about the direct object, further describing or identifying it.
This grammatical element adds depth and clarity to your writing and speech. This article will comprehensively explore object complements, covering their definition, types, usage rules, and common mistakes.
Students, teachers, and anyone looking to refine their understanding of sentence structure will find this guide invaluable.
Table of Contents
- Definition of Object Complement
- Structural Breakdown
- Types of Object Complements
- Examples of Object Complements
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of Object Complement
An object complement is a word or phrase that follows a direct object and renames or describes it. It adds extra information about the object, clarifying its state, condition, or identity after the action of the verb. Essentially, it completes the meaning of the verb in relation to the object. Without the object complement, the sentence may feel incomplete or lack specific detail.
Object complements typically function as nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. They are most commonly found after transitive verbs that express actions like ‘consider,’ ‘make,’ ‘find,’ ‘elect,’ ‘paint,’ and ‘name.’ These verbs often require an object complement to fully express the intended meaning.
The object complement provides essential information that cannot be omitted without altering the sentence’s core message.
For example, in the sentence “They elected him president,” ‘him’ is the direct object, and ‘president’ is the object complement. ‘President’ renames ‘him,’ specifying his new role.
Similarly, in “She painted the door red,” ‘the door’ is the direct object, and ‘red’ is the object complement, describing the door’s color. Recognizing object complements is essential for accurate sentence analysis and effective communication.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure involving an object complement is as follows: Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement. Understanding this structure is key to identifying and using object complements correctly.
Each element plays a specific role in the sentence’s construction.
The subject performs the action, while the verb expresses the action. The direct object receives the action of the verb, and the object complement provides additional information about the direct object. The direct object always precedes the object complement. The verb is typically a transitive verb that requires both a direct object and an object complement to complete its meaning.
Consider the sentence: “The jury found him guilty.” Here, ‘The jury’ is the subject, ‘found’ is the verb, ‘him’ is the direct object, and ‘guilty’ is the object complement. The object complement ‘guilty’ describes the state of ‘him’ after the jury’s decision.
This structural pattern helps to distinguish object complements from other sentence elements, such as subject complements or adverbs.
Types of Object Complements
Object complements can be classified into several types based on their grammatical form and function. The primary types include noun object complements and adjective object complements.
Understanding these types helps in identifying and using them correctly.
Noun Object Complements
Noun object complements rename or identify the direct object. They function as nouns and provide additional information about the object’s identity or role.
These are often found after verbs like ‘name,’ ‘elect,’ ‘appoint,’ ‘consider,’ and ‘make.’ The noun object complement clarifies what the direct object is now considered or known as.
For example, “We named our dog Buddy.” Here, ‘Buddy’ is a noun object complement that renames ‘our dog.’ Similarly, in “The company appointed her CEO,” ‘CEO’ is a noun object complement identifying her new role. Noun object complements provide essential information about the direct object’s new identity or designation.
Adjective Object Complements
Adjective object complements describe the direct object, indicating its state, condition, or quality. They function as adjectives and are often found after verbs like ‘find,’ ‘make,’ ‘paint,’ ‘consider,’ and ‘think.’ The adjective object complement provides descriptive information about the direct object.
For example, “She painted the walls blue.” Here, ‘blue’ is an adjective object complement describing the color of ‘the walls.’ Similarly, in “The music made me happy,” ‘happy’ is an adjective object complement describing the state of ‘me.’ Adjective object complements add descriptive detail to the sentence, enhancing its clarity and impact.
Examples of Object Complements
To further illustrate the concept, here are several examples of object complements, categorized by type. These examples will help you recognize and understand how object complements function in various sentence structures.
Noun Object Complement Examples
The following table provides examples of sentences using noun object complements. These examples demonstrate how a noun or noun phrase can rename or identify the direct object.
| Sentence | Direct Object | Object Complement |
|---|---|---|
| They elected him captain. | him | captain |
| We named our cat Whiskers. | our cat | Whiskers |
| The company appointed her director. | her | director |
| The club made him treasurer. | him | treasurer |
| The students consider her a genius. | her | a genius |
| The audience declared the play a success. | the play | a success |
| We call our house The Blue Haven. | our house | The Blue Haven |
| They crowned him king. | him | king |
| The team voted her MVP. | her | MVP |
| The judge declared him innocent. | him | innocent |
| She considers him a friend. | him | a friend |
| They labeled the project a failure. | the project | a failure |
| We regard her as an expert. | her | an expert |
| The society elected him president. | him | president |
| They nicknamed him “Speedy”. | him | “Speedy” |
| I consider her my mentor. | her | my mentor |
| The board appointed him chairman. | him | chairman |
| We designated the area a park. | the area | a park |
| The people proclaimed him a hero. | him | a hero |
| They branded the product innovative. | the product | innovative |
| The committee named her chairperson. | her | chairperson |
| They appointed him ambassador. | him | ambassador |
| We classified the data confidential. | the data | confidential |
| The school designated her valedictorian. | her | valedictorian |
| They declared the mission a success. | the mission | a success |
Adjective Object Complement Examples
The table below showcases examples of sentences using adjective object complements. These examples illustrate how an adjective can describe the direct object’s state or condition.
| Sentence | Direct Object | Object Complement |
|---|---|---|
| She painted the door red. | the door | red |
| The music made me happy. | me | happy |
| He likes his coffee strong. | his coffee | strong |
| The sun turned the leaves brown. | the leaves | brown |
| We found the house empty. | the house | empty |
| The news left her speechless. | her | speechless |
| They prefer their tea sweet. | their tea | sweet |
| I like my eggs scrambled. | my eggs | scrambled |
| She keeps her room tidy. | her room | tidy |
| The exercise made him tired. | him | tired |
| He likes his shirts ironed. | his shirts | ironed |
| The cold weather made the roads slippery. | the roads | slippery |
| We consider the task complete. | the task | complete |
| The movie left us disappointed. | us | disappointed |
| She prefers her steak rare. | her steak | rare |
| They wanted the room clean. | the room | clean |
| He likes his beer cold. | his beer | cold |
| The experience made her stronger. | her | stronger |
| We found the situation manageable. | the situation | manageable |
| The laughter made him cheerful. | him | cheerful |
| She prefers her coffee black. | her coffee | black |
| They like their music loud. | their music | loud |
| He found the book interesting. | the book | interesting |
| The trip left us exhausted. | us | exhausted |
| She considers the project finished. | the project | finished |
Mixed Object Complement Examples
This table provides a mix of noun and adjective object complement examples to illustrate their versatility in different contexts.
| Sentence | Direct Object | Object Complement | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| They elected him president. | him | president | Noun |
| She painted the door red. | the door | red | Adjective |
| We named our dog Buddy. | our dog | Buddy | Noun |
| The music made me happy. | me | happy | Adjective |
| The company appointed her director. | her | director | Noun |
| He likes his coffee strong. | his coffee | strong | Adjective |
| The club made him treasurer. | him | treasurer | Noun |
| The sun turned the leaves brown. | the leaves | brown | Adjective |
| The students consider her a genius. | her | a genius | Noun |
| We found the house empty. | the house | empty | Adjective |
| The audience declared the play a success. | the play | a success | Noun |
| The news left her speechless. | her | speechless | Adjective |
| We call our house The Blue Haven. | our house | The Blue Haven | Noun |
| They prefer their tea sweet. | their tea | sweet | Adjective |
| They crowned him king. | him | king | Noun |
| I like my eggs scrambled. | my eggs | scrambled | Adjective |
| The team voted her MVP. | her | MVP | Noun |
| She keeps her room tidy. | her room | tidy | Adjective |
| The judge declared him innocent. | him | innocent | Noun |
| The exercise made him tired. | him | tired | Adjective |
Usage Rules
Using object complements correctly involves understanding specific rules and guidelines. These rules ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.
Here are some key usage rules to consider.
Rule 1: The object complement must agree in number and kind with the direct object it modifies. If the direct object is singular, the object complement should also be singular. Similarly, if the direct object is plural, the object complement should be plural or a descriptive adjective applicable to a plural noun.
Rule 2: The object complement typically follows the direct object immediately. While other elements can sometimes intervene, placing the object complement directly after the direct object usually results in the clearest and most grammatically sound sentence.
Rule 3: Use object complements primarily with transitive verbs that express actions of making, finding, considering, or naming. These verbs often require an object complement to complete their meaning.
Rule 4: Avoid confusing object complements with subject complements. Subject complements follow linking verbs and describe or rename the subject, while object complements follow transitive verbs and describe or rename the direct object.
Rule 5: Ensure that the object complement logically describes or renames the direct object. The relationship between the direct object and the object complement should be clear and understandable.
Common Mistakes
Several common mistakes can occur when using object complements. Recognizing these errors and understanding how to correct them is essential for improving your grammar skills.
Here are some frequent mistakes to watch out for.
Mistake 1: Confusing Object Complements with Subject Complements. This is a common error, especially for beginners. Remember that object complements modify the direct object, while subject complements modify the subject.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| He is president. | They elected him president. | “President” is a subject complement in the first sentence, describing ‘He.’ In the second, it’s an object complement describing ‘him’. |
| The door is red. | She painted the door red. | “Red” is a subject complement describing ‘The door’ in the first sentence. In the second, it’s an object complement describing what she painted the door. |
Mistake 2: Omitting the Object Complement. Sometimes, the object complement is necessary for the sentence to make sense. Omitting it can leave the sentence incomplete or unclear.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| They elected him. | They elected him president. | The first sentence is incomplete without specifying what they elected him to be. |
| She painted the door. | She painted the door red. | The second sentence is clearer because it specifies the color she painted it. |
Mistake 3: Incorrect Word Order. The object complement should typically follow the direct object immediately. Placing it elsewhere in the sentence can lead to confusion.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| They elected president him. | They elected him president. | The word order is incorrect in the first sentence, making it awkward. |
| She painted red the door. | She painted the door red. | The word order is incorrect in the first sentence, making it awkward. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of object complements with these practice exercises. Identify the object complement in each sentence and indicate whether it is a noun or an adjective.
Exercise 1
Identify the object complement in each sentence and state whether it is a noun or adjective.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. They found the movie boring. | boring (adjective) |
| 2. We named our boat “Seafarer”. | “Seafarer” (noun) |
| 3. The committee considered the proposal unacceptable. | unacceptable (adjective) |
| 4. The club elected her secretary. | secretary (noun) |
| 5. The heat made me sleepy. | sleepy (adjective) |
| 6. They declared the contest invalid. | invalid (adjective) |
| 7. The team appointed him captain. | captain (noun) |
| 8. The experience left her wiser. | wiser (adjective) |
| 9. We consider the task complete. | complete (adjective) |
| 10. The members named him treasurer. | treasurer (noun) |
Exercise 2
Complete each sentence with an appropriate object complement, indicating whether it’s a noun or adjective.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The jury found him __________. | guilty (adjective) |
| 2. We consider her __________. | a valuable asset (noun) |
| 3. The music made her __________. | calm (adjective) |
| 4. They appointed him __________. | leader (noun) |
| 5. The students found the lesson __________. | interesting (adjective) |
| 6. We named our new puppy __________. | Lucky (noun) |
| 7. The cold weather made the roads __________. | icy (adjective) |
| 8. They elected her __________. | spokesperson (noun) |
| 9. The experience left him __________. | changed (adjective) |
| 10. She painted the wall __________. | yellow (adjective) |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, exploring more complex aspects of object complements can further enhance your understanding. This includes understanding the nuances of verb choice and the use of object complements in more sophisticated sentence structures.
Verb Choice: The choice of verb significantly impacts the meaning and appropriateness of the object complement. Verbs like ‘consider,’ ‘find,’ and ‘make’ have specific connotations that influence how the object complement is interpreted. For example, “I find the movie interesting” suggests a personal opinion, while “They made him king” implies a formal decision.
Complex Sentence Structures: Object complements can be incorporated into complex sentences with multiple clauses. This allows for more detailed and nuanced descriptions. For instance, “The committee found the report, which detailed several key issues, unacceptable” uses a relative clause to provide additional context about the direct object.
Figurative Language: Object complements can be used in figurative language to create vivid imagery and convey deeper meanings. For example, “She painted her life vibrant” uses an adjective object complement to metaphorically describe the quality of her life.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about object complements, along with detailed answers to help clarify any remaining points.
Q1: What is the difference between an object complement and an object modifier?
A: An object complement renames or describes the direct object, providing essential information about its identity or state after the action of the verb. An object modifier, on the other hand, provides additional but non-essential information about the object.
Object modifiers can often be removed without significantly altering the core meaning of the sentence, while object complements are crucial to the sentence’s meaning.
Q2: Can a prepositional phrase be an object complement?
A: Generally, no. Object complements are typically nouns, pronouns, or adjectives.
Prepositional phrases usually function as adjectival or adverbial modifiers, not as complements that rename or describe the direct object in the same way a noun or adjective would.
Q3: How do I identify an object complement in a sentence?
A: To identify an object complement, first, locate the direct object of the transitive verb. Then, ask yourself if there is a word or phrase immediately following the direct object that renames or describes it.
If such a word or phrase exists, it is likely an object complement.
Q4: What types of verbs are commonly used with object complements?
A: Verbs that express actions of making, finding, considering, naming, or electing are commonly used with object complements. Examples include ‘make,’ ‘find,’ ‘consider,’ ‘name,’ ‘elect,’ ‘appoint,’ ‘paint,’ and ‘declare.’ These verbs often require an object complement to complete their meaning in relation to the direct object.
Q5: Is it possible for a sentence to have both a subject complement and an object complement?
A: No, a sentence cannot have both a subject complement and an object complement modifying the same noun or pronoun. Subject complements modify the subject of the sentence and follow a linking verb, while object complements modify the direct object and follow a transitive verb. They serve different functions and relate to different parts of the sentence.
Q6: Can an infinitive phrase function as an object complement?
A: While less common, an infinitive phrase can sometimes function similarly to an object complement, particularly with verbs that express a judgment or declaration. For instance, in “They considered him to be a fool,” the infinitive phrase “to be a fool” functions much like a noun object complement, renaming ‘him.’ However, this construction is more complex and requires careful consideration of the verb’s meaning.
Q7: How does the presence of an object complement change the meaning of a sentence?
A: The presence of an object complement adds specific and crucial information about the direct object. Without it, the sentence may be incomplete or lack clarity.
The object complement clarifies the state, condition, or identity of the direct object after the action of the verb, providing essential context and detail.
Q8: Are object complements always necessary in a sentence with a direct object?
A: No, object complements are not always necessary. They are only required when the verb’s meaning is incomplete without additional information about the direct object.
Many transitive verbs do not require an object complement to form a complete and meaningful sentence.
Conclusion
Object complements are a vital aspect of English grammar, adding depth and precision to sentence construction. By understanding their definition, types, usage rules, and common mistakes, you can significantly improve your writing and communication skills.
Remember that object complements rename or describe the direct object, providing essential information about its identity or state.
Continue practicing identifying and using object complements in various contexts. Pay attention to verb choice and sentence structure to ensure accuracy.
With consistent effort, you will master the use of object complements and enhance your overall command of English grammar. Always review and apply the rules, and don’t hesitate to seek feedback on your writing.