What is an “objective complement”?
An objective complement is a noun, pronoun or adjective that follows a direct object and further describes what the object is. The sentence must contain a direct object which can be identified by being the one that is receiving the action in a sentence. They follow verbs such as call, make, name and think.
Identifying objective complements
An easy way to identify an objective complement, say the verb and the direct object, then ask what.[1]
Examples
1. Billy named his dog Spot.
The objective complement is Spot which describes what the direct object, the dog, was named.
2. The voters elected Bill Davis mayor.
The objective complement is mayor which further describes the position that the direct object, Bill Davis, was elected to.
3. If you elect me president, I'll keep the unions satisfied.[2] There are two objective complements in this sentence. President describes the elected position while satisfied refers to the unions.
Notes
Links
References
1. "Complements: Objective Complements." Objective complements. English channel, 2011. Web 7 Nov 2013. <http://tx.english-ch.com/teacher/mar/level-b/complements-objective-complements/>.
2. "Predecates, Objects, Complements." Direct and Indirect objects. Capital Community College Foundation, n.d. Web 7 Nov 2013. <http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/objects.htm>.
3. "Object complements." Grammar Handbook: Complements. The Center for Writing Studies, University of Illinois, 2013. Web 7 Nov 2013. <http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/complements/>.