What Are Object Complements in Grammar?

In English grammar, many elements work together to form complete, meaningful sentences. Some of these elements are straightforward, while others might seem a bit more elusive at first glance. One such grammatical element is the object complements in grammar. It plays an essential role in sentences, often contributing crucial information to clarify or enhance the meaning. Despite being commonly used in everyday language, object complements often go unnoticed, leading to confusion for many grammar learners. In this article, we’ll break down what an object complement is, how it functions, and why it’s important for crafting clear, effective sentences.

What is an Object complements in grammar?

At its core, an object complement is a word or group of words that describes or renames the direct object of a sentence. It helps to complete the meaning of the sentence by providing more details about the direct object. Without the object complement, the sentence might still be grammatically correct, but the meaning would be incomplete or unclear.

In other words, object complements clarify or modify the direct object to give the sentence a fuller, more precise meaning. These complements can take the form of nouns, adjectives, or noun/adjective phrases.

For example:

• She painted the wall blue.

  • “Wall” is the direct object, and “blue” is the object complement, describing the color of the wall.

• They named him president of the club.

  • “Him” is the direct object, and “president of the club” renames him in the context of the sentence.

Types of object complements in grammar

Object complements can be primarily of two types:

1. Adjective Object Complements – These describe the direct object by providing more detail about its characteristics.

   • Example: The room made me tired.

     • Here, “tired” is the adjective complement, describing how the room made the speaker feel.

2. Noun Object Complements – These renames the direct object, usually indicating a new status or role.

   • Example: They elected him captain.

     • “Captain” is a noun object complement, renaming “him”.

Functions of Object Complements

Object complements serve several crucial functions in a sentence:

• Clarifying the Direct Object: They provide additional information or context about the direct object.

• Adding Completeness to Sentences: Without an object complement, the meaning of a sentence could feel incomplete or vague.

• Showing Relationships: Object complements help highlight relationships between the subject, verb, and direct object.

 

Importance of Object Complements in Sentence Construction

In English syntax, certain sentence structures depend heavily on the presence of object complements. One common sentence pattern is subject + verb + direct object + object complement. This structure allows speakers and writers to provide more information about the object, enriching the overall meaning of the sentence.

Let’s look at an example to better understand this structure:

• She called him a genius.

  • In this case, “him” is the direct object, and “a genius” is the object complement, giving more context to who or what “him” represents.

If we remove the object complement, the sentence loses its clarity:

• She called him.

  • The action is still clear, but the meaning is incomplete without knowing what “him” was called.

Verbs That Commonly Take object complements in grammar

The verb in a sentence with an object complement is always transitive. This means it must have a direct object that receives the action. However, not all transitive verbs pair with object complements. The verbs that typically do are those that imply a change in state, a decision, or a naming process. Here are some common verbs that take object complements:

• Appoint

• Call

• Consider

• Deem

• Elect

• Find

• Make

• Name

• Paint

• Pronounce

• Turn

For example:

• They appointed Sarah manager.

  • “Sarah” is the direct object, and “manager” is the object complement.

• The judge pronounced him guilty.

  • “Him” is the direct object, and “guilty” is the object complement.

Object Complements vs. Other Sentence Elements

While object complements are essential for understanding the full meaning of a sentence, they are often confused with other elements, such as indirect objects or predicate adverbs. Let’s take a moment to distinguish these:

Object Complements vs. Indirect Objects

An indirect object typically refers to the recipient of the direct object. It answers the question “to whom” or “for whom” the action of the verb is performed. In contrast, an object complement does not describe the recipient but rather modifies or renames the direct object itself.

For example:

• She gave him a gift.

  • “Him” is the indirect object (the recipient), and “gift” is the direct object.

• She made him a gift.

  • Here, “him” is still the direct object, but “a gift” would be considered the object complement, describing what he became.

Object Complements vs. Predicate Adverbs

Another point of confusion arises between object complements and predicate adverbs. A predicate adverb modifies the verb, not the direct object. It answers questions like “how,” “when,” or “where” the action occurred.

For example:

• She sang beautifully.

  • “Beautifully” is a predicate adverb, modifying the verb “sang”, not the direct object.

In contrast, an object complement describes or renames the direct object:

• She sang the song beautifully.

  • In this case, “song” is the direct object, and “beautifully” is modifying the verb, not renaming or describing the object itself.

By recognizing these distinctions, you can better understand the role of object complements and how they interact with other sentence elements.

The Role of Object Complements in Sentence Structure

Understanding the object complement helps build more intricate and meaningful sentences. By providing extra information about the direct object, these complements can change the focus or impact of a sentence. In this section, we will explore more examples, examine how object complements function in different sentence structures, and highlight their importance in advanced grammar.

More Examples of object complements in grammar

Let’s begin with a few more examples of object complements in action. These examples showcase various types of complements (noun and adjective) and their impact on sentence meaning:

• The team made John captain.

  • “John” is the direct object, and “captain” is the noun object complement, renaming him in a new role.

• The movie turned the audience nervous.

  • “Audience” is the direct object, and “nervous” is the adjective object complement, describing the state the audience was in after watching the movie.

• The teacher called Sarah a genius.

  • “Sarah” is the direct object, and “a genius” is the object complement, giving further insight into how Sarah was perceived by the teacher.

• The artist painted the wall green.

  • “Wall” is the direct object, and “green” is the object complement, describing the final result of the painting action.

These examples illustrate how object complements serve to modify or rename the direct object, adding depth and specificity to the sentence. Without the object complements, the sentence would feel incomplete, and the information would be lost or vague.

Advanced Sentence Structures Using Object Complements

While subject + verb + direct object + object complement is the most common sentence structure that includes an object complement, more complex structures can still feature this grammatical element. Below are some advanced sentence patterns that use object complements effectively:

1. Compound Sentences with Object Complements:

   • She made the room clean, and he painted it yellow.

     • In this compound sentence, “clean” and “yellow” are object complements. They modify the direct objects “room” and “it” respectively.

2. Sentences with Multiple Object Complements:

   • The committee appointed Sarah president and elected John vice president.

     • This sentence includes two object complements: “president” and “vice president”. Both describe the direct objects, “Sarah” and “John”, respectively.

3. Sentences with Compound Verbs:

   • They named their child Emma and considered her a blessing.

     • The sentence includes two object complements: “Emma” and “a blessing”. The first renames the direct object “child”, and the second provides additional information about “her”.

These structures show how flexible and important object complements are when conveying multiple pieces of information. They allow sentences to hold richer meanings, avoiding oversimplification.

Why Object Complements Matter

Now that we understand how object complements work, it’s time to dive into why they are crucial for effective communication in English. Here are a few reasons why object complements are indispensable in sentence construction:

• They Provide Clarity and Precision: By renaming or describing the direct object, object complements help clarify exactly what the speaker or writer is referring to. Without them, sentences may be ambiguous or unclear.

• They Enable Complex Thought: Object complements allow speakers and writers to express more complex ideas in fewer words. Instead of lengthy explanations, one well-placed complement can provide significant detail in a concise manner.

• They Add Stylistic Variety: Object complements give writers more flexibility in sentence construction. They offer an alternative to basic subject-verb-object patterns, making the text more engaging and dynamic.

• They Enhance the Meaning of Verbs: Many verbs, like “name”, “appoint”, and “consider”, require an object complement to complete their meaning. Without these complements, the verbs may appear incomplete or less effective.

Object Complements in Different Contexts

Object complements are not just reserved for formal writing or grammar exercises. In fact, they are used frequently in everyday language, especially when describing or renaming people, things, or actions. Let’s look at how object complements appear in various contexts:

1. In Descriptive Writing

In descriptive writing, object complements are essential for painting vivid pictures. Writers often use object complements to detail characters, settings, or actions.

• The garden smelled like fresh flowers.

  • “Fresh flowers” is the object complement, describing the state of the garden.

• The children called their dog the hero of the story.

  • “Hero of the story” is the object complement, renaming the dog and providing deeper context to the sentence.

2. In Formal or Technical Writing

In more formal or technical writing, object complements can help define terms or clarify concepts that need further explanation.

• The researchers found the hypothesis true.

  • “True” is the object complement, describing the state of the hypothesis.

• The board deemed the proposal acceptable.

  • “Acceptable” is the object complement, modifying the noun “proposal”.

3. In Everyday Conversations

Even in casual conversations, we often use object complements without giving them a second thought. They are an essential part of our daily communication.

• He turned the car into the driveway.

  • “Driveway” is the object complement, describing the final destination of the car.

• I consider her my best friend.

  • “My best friend” is the object complement, renaming “her”.

Common Mistakes with object complements in grammar

Despite their usefulness, object complements can be tricky. Here are some common mistakes learners make when using them, and tips on how to avoid them:

1. Confusing Object Complements with Direct Objects

Remember, the direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. The object complement, on the other hand, provides additional information or describes the direct object.

• Incorrect: They named the cat and cute.

  • Correct: They named the cat cute. (The complement here is “cute”, describing the cat.)

2. Using Object Complements with Intransitive Verbs

Only transitive verbs (verbs that have a direct object) can be followed by object complements. Intransitive verbs, which do not take a direct object, should not be paired with object complements.

• Incorrect: She sleeps peaceful. (The verb “sleeps” is intransitive and does not take an object complement.)

  • Correct: She sleeps peacefully. (Here, “peacefully” is an adverb modifying the verb.)

Mastering Object Complements: A Recap and Actionable Tips

By now, you should have a solid understanding of object complements in grammar—their definition, importance, and various applications. As you continue to write and speak in English, mastering the use of object complements will help elevate your grammar and communication skills. In this final section, we’ll summarize the key takeaways from this guide and offer actionable tips to help you use object complements confidently.

Key Takeaways

1. What Is an Object Complement?

   • An object complement is a word or group of words that modifies or renames the direct object of a sentence, providing essential information to complete the meaning of the sentence. Object complements can be nouns, adjectives, or noun/adjective phrases.

2. How Object Complements Work

   • Object complements often come immediately after the direct object, following transitive verbs that imply a change, a state, or a naming process.

   • Common verbs paired with object complements include name, consider, elect, make, appoint, and call.

3. Distinguishing Object Complements

   • Object complements should not be confused with indirect objects or predicate adverbs. While indirect objects receive the direct object, and predicate adverbs modify the verb, object complements specifically describe or rename the direct object.

4. Types of Object Complements

   • Object complements can be adjective complements (e.g., The room turned cold) or noun complements (e.g., They named him king).

5. The Importance of Object Complements

   • Object complements are essential for clarity, as they provide additional information that helps complete the meaning of a sentence.

   • They add precision, complexity, and richness to writing and speech, making them an important tool for expressing detailed thoughts and ideas.

Actionable Tips for Using Object Complements

1. Identify Transitive Verbs in Your Sentences

   • Start by identifying transitive verbs—those that require a direct object—and check if your sentence could benefit from additional information about the direct object.

   • Example: She made the cake delicious. (The verb “made” is transitive, and the object complement “delicious” describes the cake.)

2. Practice with Common Verbs That Take Object Complements

   • Familiarize yourself with verbs that commonly take object complements. Write sentences using these verbs, ensuring the complement enhances or clarifies the direct object.

   • Some verbs to practice with include: appoint, name, call, consider, deem, elect, and find.

3. Experiment with Different Object Complements

   • Try using both noun and adjective complements in your writing. See how each type of complement impacts the sentence and changes its meaning.

   • Example: The teacher called the student an expert. (Noun complement) vs. The teacher called the student intelligent. (Adjective complement)

4. Avoid Common Mistakes

   • Be cautious of confusing object complements with direct objects or adverbs. Object complements should directly describe or rename the direct object, while adverbs modify the verb.

5. Apply Object Complements in Real-Life Contexts

   • Object complements are not just for academic writing. Use them in your everyday conversations, creative writing, or professional communication to add depth and clarity.

   • Example: She described the book captivating. (Adjective complement) or They called the dog a hero. (Noun complement)

6. Review and Edit Your Writing

   • When reviewing your writing, check for opportunities to include object complements. Are there places where you could provide more specific information about your direct objects? Adding object complements can improve the overall quality of your work.

Conculation 

To wrap things up, object complements in grammar play a key role in making your sentences clearer and more precise. By using them, you can provide more information about the direct object, whether you’re renaming it or adding a descriptive detail. This simple yet powerful tool can take your writing to the next level, ensuring your ideas are communicated with greater depth and accuracy.

Incorporating object complements in grammar into your sentences doesn’t require complex rules—it’s all about enhancing the meaning of your message. With the examples and tips shared, you’ll be ready to use object complements confidently in everyday writing and conversations. Keep practicing, and soon, your sentences will feel more complete and engaging. Happy writing!