In English grammar, we often come across terms like
complements
, which are further divided into two types - subject complements and object complements. The subject complement, as the name suggests, complements or completes the
subject
of a sentence, whereas the object complement provides additional information about the
object
of a sentence. This article will delve into the concept of object complements, defining what they are, how they function, and illustrating their use with examples.
An object complement is a grammatical term that refers to a word or group of words that provides additional information about the object of a sentence. It could be an
adjective
,
noun
, or
noun phrase
that directly completes the meaning of a
verb
and its object. For example, in the sentence "I find the movie interesting," "interesting" is the object complement as it provides more information about the object "movie."
How to Identify and Use Object Complements in Sentences
Identifying object complements in sentences requires understanding their role and position in relation to the verb and the object. An object complement can be a noun, adjective, or a noun or adjective phrase that follows the direct object and describes or renames it. For example, in the sentence "She considers him a good friend," "a good friend" is the object complement as it describes the object "him."
Examples of Object Complements
Let's look at some examples to understand the use of object complements in sentences.
Using Nouns as Object Complements
They named their cat
Whiskers.
His colleagues elected him
President
of the company.
Using Noun Phrases as Object Complements
The committee appointed Robert
the head of the fundraising team.
The coach named Maria
the best player of the match.
Using Adjectives as Object Complements
The news made her
happy.
The exercise kept him
fit.
Test Series
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SSC CHSL (Tier I & Tier II) Mock Test Series 2025 (New)
Try to identify the object complements in the following sentences:
1. He painted the wall blue.
2. The jury found him guilty.
3. They elected her class representative.
4. I consider her my best friend.
5. She named her dog Fido.
The object complements in these sentences are: blue, guilty, class representative, my best friend, and Fido, respectively.
An object complement delivers some additional information about the object in a sentence.
What is the definition of an object complement?
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics defines an object complement as “an adjective, noun, or noun phrase which directly completes the construction of a verb and an object”. According to the Collins Dictionary, an object complement is defined as “a word or a group of words used in the predicate following a factitive verb and referring to its direct object”.
Give 5 examples of object complements.
1. Mona and Anish named their son Roy Manual. 2. Nadu coloured her hair burgundy. 3. Grammar makes the English language interesting. 4. Working out in the morning keeps us active all day. 5. Enid painted her nails pink and orange.