Object Complement - Meaning, Definition, Usage and Examples

Complements are of two types, namely, subject complement and object complement. As the name implies, a subject complement describes the subject, and an object complement modifies the object. Through the course of this article, you will be introduced to what an object complement is, its definition and how they are used in sentences. In addition to this, various examples have been provided; go through them for a clearer idea of the role of object complements in sentences.

Table of Contents

• What Is an Object Complement? – Meaning and Definition
• Identifying and Using Object Complements in Sentences
• Examples of Object Complements
  • Nouns as Object Complements
  • Noun Phrases as Object Complements
  • Adjectives as Object Complements
• Check Your Understanding of Object Complements
• Frequently Asked Questions on Object Complements in English Grammar

What Is an Object Complement? – Meaning and Definition

An object complement delivers some additional information about the object in a sentence. 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”.

Identifying and Using Object Complements in Sentences

Just like subject complements, nouns, noun phrases, adjectives, or adjective phrases can work as the object complement in a sentence. It can be a name, a position or a quality. In order to identify an object complement, you have to first find the word/phrase that precedes or follows the object in the sentence. You can then analyse if it describes the object in some way. If it does, then there’s your object complement.

Examples of Object Complements

Given below are examples of object complements. Go through them and analyse how they work.

Nouns as Object Complements

• They named their dog Bruno.
• Danny’s friends call him DJ.

Noun Phrases as Object Complements

• The students elected Srinath the school pupil leader.
• We nominated Ann the captain of the volleyball team.

Adjectives as Object Complements

• Talking back makes my parents angry.
• Taking a break every two hours will keep your mind fresh.

Check Your Understanding of Object Complements

Identify the complements in the following sentences and state if they are subject complements or object complements.

1. The series ‘Wednesday’ was nail-biting.

2. The potato gravy became too spicy when we added pepper for the second time.

3. The teacher made Wahab the treasurer of the Literary Club.

4. Every new dish I cook makes me all the more interested in cooking.

5. Ellen and Rachel seemed close, didn’t they?

6. The police found the dog dead.

7. There was a dilapidated building across the street.

8. If you want the drink cold, keep it in the fridge for an hour or so.

9. Brenda called her daughter Bubble.

10. The movie we watched yesterday was an Oscar nominee.

Here are the answers; go through them to check if you identified the complements correctly.

1. The series ‘Wednesday’ was nail-biting. – Subject complement

2. The potato gravy became too spicy when we added pepper for the second time. – Subject complement

3. The teacher made Wahab the treasurer of the Literary Club. – Object complement

4. Every new dish I cook makes me all the more interested in cooking. – Object complement

5. Ellen and Rachel seemed close, didn’t they? – Subject complement

6. The police found the dog dead. – Object complement

7. There was a dilapidated building across the street. – Object complement

8. If you want the drink cold, keep it in the fridge for an hour or so. – Object complement

9. Brenda called her daughter Bubble. – Object complement

10. The movie we watched yesterday was an Oscar nominee. – Subject complement