Lesson 196

Parts of the Sentence - Objective Complement

An objective complement can be a nounA noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Examples: man, city, book, and courage. Source: Lesson 16 or an adjectiveAdjectives modify or affect the meaning of nouns and pronouns and tell us which, whose, what kind, and how many about the nouns or pronouns they modify. They come before the noun or pronoun they modify. Source: Lesson 151 which follows the direct objectA direct object receives the action performed by the subject. The verb used with a direct object is always an action verb. Another way of saying it is that the subject does the verb to the direct object.
Source: Lesson 109 renaming or modifying it. It is used with verbs like make, name, call, choose, elect, and appoint. It is not set off with commas as an appositiveAn appositive is a word or group of words that identifies or renames the noun or pronoun that it follows. It is set off by commas unless closely tied to the word that it identifies or renames. ("Closely tied" means that it is needed to identify the word.) An appositive can follow any noun or pronoun. Source: Lesson 128 is.

Example:
I call my dog BadgerN.

A verb that has an objective complement in the active voice may in the passive voice have a predicate nominativeA predicate nominative or predicate noun completes a linking verb and renames the subject. It is a complement or completer because it completes the verb. Predicate nominatives complete only linking verbs. The verb in a sentence having a predicate nominative can always be replaced by the word equals. Source: Lesson 102 or a predicate adjectiveAn adjective that comes after a linking verb and modifies the subject.
Source: Lesson 155.

Example:
I call my dog Badger. (objective complement)
My dog is called Badger by me. (predicate nominative)

Example:
I consider my dog smart. (objective complement)
My dog is considered smart by me. (predicate adjective)

Instructions: Find the objective complements in the following sentences and tell whether they are nouns or adjectives.

1. Have you named Mr. Jones temporary chairman?

Have you named Mr. Jones temporary chairmanN?

2. We called the boy on the horse Jock.

We called the boy on the horse JockN.

3. The team elected the twins co-captains.

The team elected the twins co-captainsN.

4. The explorers found the old building empty.

The explorers found the old building emptyAdj.

5. Our present renters have kept the apartment clean.

Our present renters have kept the apartment cleanAdj.