We’re tackling a grammar topic that you’ve probably never heard of: objective complements.
Let’s start with an example! Can you identify the function of all of the words in the following sentence?
We named our daughter Alice.
We = pronoun & subject
named = transitive active verb
our = possessive pronoun/adjective
daughter = noun & direct object
Alice = ?
This was taken right after Alice was born.
You were probably able to identify Alice as a noun, but were you able to figure out what function Alice is serving in the sentence? Alice is something called an objective complement.
What is an objective complement?
An objective complement is a noun or adjective that completes the meaning of the verb and modifies, names, or renames the direct object.
Since these modify, name, or rename direct objects, you’ll only find them in sentences that have direct objects. (That also means the sentence will have a transitive active verb.)
We named our daughter Alice.
They elected my uncle mayor.
This music makes me happy.
We consider you good friends.
- Named, elected, makes, and consider are transitive active verbs.
- Daughter, uncle, me, and you are direct objects.
- Alice, mayor, happy, and friends are objective complements. They are completing the meaning of the verb, and they either describe or rename the direct object.
Sentence Diagramming
Sentence diagrams are pictures of sentences. These pictures show us the structure of the sentence.
To diagram an objective complement (OC), extend the horizontal line that holds the subject, verb, and direct object. Draw a slanted line between the direct object and the OC.
We named our daughter Alice.
Psst! There is another way that objective complements have been diagrammed, and I wanted to show you that as well. (I prefer the method above, but if you’ve already learned to diagram them this way, it’s fine too!)
Directions
Identify each word in the following sentence. If you’ve already learned how to diagram sentences, you should also diagram them. You’ll find the answers just below this section.
1. I painted my room red.
2. The students kept the room tidy.
3. His family calls him Dave.
4. My dad made the chili very spicy.
5. Margo dyed her hair pink.
1.
I painted my room red.
I = pronoun & subject
painted = transitive active verb
my = possessive pronoun/adjective
room = noun & direct object
red = adjective & OC
2.
The students kept the room tidy.
students = pronoun & subject
The = adjective
kept = transitive active verb
the = adjective
room = noun & direct object
tidy = adjective & OC
3.
His family calls him Dave.
family = noun & subject
His = possessive pronoun/adjective
calls = transitive active verb
him = pronoun & direct object
Dave = noun & OC
4.
My dad made the chili very spicy!
dad = noun & subject
My = possessive pronoun/adjective
made = transitive active verb
chili = noun & direct object
the = adjective
spicy = adjective & OC
very = adverb
5.
Margo dyed her hair pink.
Margo = noun & subject
dyed = transitive active verb
her = adjective
hair = noun & direct object
pink = adjective & OC
