View source for What is an “objective complement”?

An objective complement is an adjective, noun, or group of words that acts as an adjective or noun which modifies the [[direct object]] of a sentence. 

== The Rules ==

'''Identifying Objects'''

*A direct object is a noun or pronoun that follows a [[transitive verb]] and completes its meaning.
*An indirect object receives the direct object.

'''Modifying an Object'''

*Whereas a [[subject complement]] modifies the subject of a sentence, an object complement only modifies an object. 
**Verbs which have to do with perceiving, judging or changing something typically cause their direct objects to take on object complements

== Usage ==

'''Object Complement'''

=== Example 1 ===

The student body voted Lucy <u>prom queen</u>. 

*"Lucy" is the direct object of the sentence, "voted" is the transitive verb, and "prom queen" is the object complement as it modifies the direct object "Lucy".

=== Example 2 ===

The drug will keep your body <u>healthy</u>.

*"Your body" is the direct object of the transitive verb "keep", and "healthy" is the object compliment as it refers to the direct object "your body".

'''Subject Compliment'''

[[Subject complements]] are similar to an object compliments as they perform essentially the same function: modifying a noun or pronoun within a [[sentence]]. However, subject compliments modify or refer to a sentence's subject only. 

=== Example  ===

Lucy became the <u>prom queen</u>.

*In this case, "became" functions as a [[linking verb]] and not a transitive one; because there is no object one cannot be modified. The complement "prom queen" refers to the subject "Lucy", and is therefore a subject compliment.

== External Links ==

[http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/complements/ Grammar Handbook: Complements]

[http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/objcompl.html Objects and Compliments]