Objects as Complements-lecture note

7/27/2019 Objects as Complements-lecture note

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P U A N N O R A Z A A H A M D Z A B I D I

Objects as Complements


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Definition of Complement

A complement(notice the spelling of the word) isany word or phrase that completes the sense of asubject, an object, or averb.

As you will see, the terminology describingpredicates and complements can overlap and be a bitconfusing.

Students are probably wise to learn one set of terms,

not both
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/subjects.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/subjects.htm


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Different meanings of complement

In grammarthe

The primary meaning is aword, phraseor clausethat is necessaryin a sentence to complete its

meaning. We find complements that function as an argument

(i.e., of equal status to subjectsand objects) andcomplements that exist within arguments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrasehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verb_argumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verb_argumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrasehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammar


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Complements and Modifiers

Both complements and modifiers add to the meaning of asentence.

However, a complement is necessary to complete asentence; a modifieris not.

For example, "Put the bread on the table" needs "on thetable" to make it complete.

In this context, the phrase "on the table" is acomplement. By contrast, "The bread on the table is

fresh." does not require "on the table" to be complete, sohere, the phrase "on the table" is a modifier. A modifier,unlike a complement, is an optionalelement of asentence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modifierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modifier


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They named their daughter Natasha.

In that sentence, "daughter" is the direct object and

"Natasha" is the objectcomplement, whichrenames or describes the direct object.

The robber shot MY BROTHER.

MY BROTHER-is a noun phrase functioning as aDirect object


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Object Complement

An object complementfollows and modifies orrefers to a direct object. It can be a noun or adjectiveor any word acting as a noun or adjective.

The convention named Dogbreath Vice President to keep himhappy. (The noun "Vice President" complements the directobject "Dogbreath"; the adjective "happy" complements theobject "him.")

The clown got the children too excited. (The participle"excited" complements the object "children.")


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An object complementmodifies an object ratherthan a subject.

Consider this example of a subject complement:The driver seems tired.

In this case, as explained above, the adjective "tired"modifies the noun "driver," which is the subject ofthe sentence.
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/subjpred.htmlhttp://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/subjpred.html


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Sometimes, however, the noun will be the object, asin the following example:

I consider the driver tired.

In this case, the noun "driver" is the direct object ofthe verb "consider," but the adjective "tired" is stillacting as its complement.


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The indirect objectidentifies to or for whom orwhat the action of the verb is performed.

The direct object and indirect object are differentpeople or places or things.


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The direct objects below are inboldface; the indirect objects are in italics.

The instructor gave his studentsA's.

Grandfather leftRosalita and Raoulall his money.

Jo-Bob sold meher boat.


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Incidentally, the word me(and similar object-formpronouns such as him, us, them) is not always anindirect object; it will also serve, sometimes, as adirect object.

Bless me/her/us!

Call me/him/them if you have questions.


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In English, nouns and their accompanying modifiers(articles and adjectives) do not change form whenthey are used as objects or indirect objects, as theydo in many other languages.

"The radio is on the desk" and "I borrowed the radio"contain exactly the same word form used for quitedifferent functions.


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This is not true of pronouns, however, which usedifferent forms for different functions.

(He [subject] loves his grandmother.

His grandmother loves him [object].) (See, also,pronoun cases.)
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cases.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cases.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns.htm


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General Rule

An object usually comes after the verb, and itgenerally refers to something that is affected by theaction of the verb.

If there is only one object=Direct Object E.gs

That dog bit MY SISTER.

Zola scored A GOAL last night.


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One other characteristics of a sentence with an objectis that there is usually a corresponding passivesentence with roughly the same meaning but wherethe original object is now functioning as the subject

a. That dog bit MY SISTER.

b. MY SISTER was bitten by that dog

The passive counterpart is b


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a. Zola scored A GOAL last night.

b. A GOAL was scored by Zola last night

The passive counterpart is b.

If there is a noun phrase occurring after the verb, wecan use the passive Test to see if it is functioning asan object

A verb that takes an object is called a TRANSITIVEverb. Verbs like bite and score, which are followed byjust one object, are called MONOTRANSITIVE


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In general, verbs which have to do with perceiving, judging, orchanging something can cause their direct objects to take an objectcomplement:

Paint itblack.

The judge ruled her out of order. I saw the Prime Minister sleeping.

In every case, you could reconstruct the last part of the sentenceinto a sentence of its own using a subject complement: "it is black.

"she is out of order," "the Prime Minister is sleeping."


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Direct Object + Object Complement

An object complement renames or describes

the object.Like a subject complement, it can be a noun or

an adjective.

The reporters declared the election a windfall.

DO OC


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INDIRECT OBJECTS

The man bought HIS GIRLFRIENDA ROSE

Ellen bought HER HUSBANDA GIFT

Both the noun phrases are objects. The first one iscalled INDIRECT OBJECT while the second-DIRECT OBJECT

Verbs like give and buy take two objects and arecalled DITRANSITIVE


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A diagnostic test for an indirect object is that it canbe moved to the end of the sentence if we first inserta preposition(either to or for). We will call this thePOSTPONEMENT TEST.

The man gave HIS GIRLFRIENDA ROSE

The man gaveA ROSE to HIS GIRLFRIEND


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Ellen bought HER HUSBANDA GIFT

Ellen bought A GIFTfor HER HUSBAND

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Objects as Complements-lecture note