object complement
LowTechnical (linguistics/grammar)
Definition
Meaning
A word or phrase that follows and describes or renames the direct object of a verb.
In grammar, an object complement completes the meaning of the direct object by describing or identifying it. It occurs after verbs of making, naming, perceiving, or considering (e.g., make, call, find, consider).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The object complement is essential for the completeness of certain sentences; without it, the sentence may be incomplete or have a different meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and example phrasing may differ slightly.
Connotations
Neutral, purely grammatical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency technical term in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object ComplementVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; only in internal training documents about clear writing.
Academic
Common in linguistics, grammar, and language teaching textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in grammatical analysis and syntax descriptions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We consider the matter closed.
- The judge declared him innocent.
American English
- They painted the house grey.
- The board elected her chairperson.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sun keeps us warm. ('warm' describes 'us')
- I call my dog Spot. ('Spot' renames 'my dog')
- The news made everyone happy.
- They elected her class president.
- The jury found the defendant not guilty on all counts.
- His experience qualifies him an expert in the field.
- The constant criticism drove him to the brink of despair, a state his friends found deeply concerning.
- Her meticulous research and compelling arguments rendered the opposing viewpoint virtually indefensible.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Object Complement: Object's Companion. It complements (completes/describes) the object.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRAMMAR IS ARCHITECTURE (The object complement is a supporting structure completing the 'building' of the sentence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation ('объект комплемент') is meaningless. Use 'именная часть составного сказуемого при дополнении' or 'предикатив при объекте' for accuracy.
- Confusion with 'subject complement' (именная часть составного сказуемого). The key is identifying what is being described: the subject or the object.
- Overlooking the structural difference from Russian, where similar meaning is often expressed with a clause or a different case.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with a direct object (e.g., 'They painted the wall blue' – 'blue' is the complement, not another object).
- Misidentifying the object complement in sentences with two objects (e.g., 'She gave him a book' – 'a book' is direct object, not a complement).
- Forgetting it only appears with a specific set of verbs.
- Placing it incorrectly in the sentence order.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'We painted the old shed a cheerful yellow.', what is the object complement?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The object is the receiver of the verb's action. The object complement describes or renames that object. In 'They made him captain', 'him' is the object, 'captain' is the complement describing him.
Yes. Object complements can be adjectives ('I find his attitude annoying'), nouns ('They named their son Leo'), or noun phrases.
With certain verbs (like 'make', 'call', 'consider'), the sentence feels incomplete without it. With others, it may be optional, adding extra description.
First, find the verb and the direct object. Then ask: 'What word or phrase comes after the direct object and describes or renames it?' That word/phrase is the object complement.