Object Complement and Adverbial Complement

Object Complement

Some Verbs require a Complement in addition to the Object (Transitive Verb of Incomplete Predication).

An object complement is similar to a subject complement, but it modifies an object rather than a subject.

Compare the following sentences:

The horse seems tired. (horse - subject; tired - subject complement; horse = tired)

He considers the horse tired. (horse - object; tired - object complement; horse = tired)

Verbs related to judging, perceiving, or changing something can, in general, cause their direct objects to take an object complement:

The jury judged him guilty. (judging)

I saw the monster sleeping. (perceiving)

Paint it blue. (changing something)

Object Complement Vs. Indirect Object

Let us understand the difference using the following sentences:

Aanya prefers white sauce pasta. (white sauce pasta - direct object)

Aanya gave him white sauce pasta. (white sauce pasta - direct object; him - indirect object) (direct object and indirect object are referring to different entities)

Aanya considers him a genius. (him - direct object; genius - object complement) (object and object complement are referring to the same entity)

What can function as object complement?

• Objective complement may be a noun /noun phrase or pronoun (they rename the object):

The boys made Mohit the house captain. (noun) (Mohit = the house captain)

Mrs. Dixit named her husband the nominee of her insurance policy. (noun phrase) (husband = the nominee of her insurance policy)

They may not select me either. (pronoun)

• Objective complement may be an adjective /adjective phrase (they describe or modify the object):

The committee found him careless. (adjective) (him = careless)

The excitement of the trip got the young students way too hyper. (adjective phrase)

Adverbial Complement

Adverbial complements - adverbs (or adverbial elements) that are necessary to complete the meaning of the verb.

He is in the backyard. (adverb – Where?) (We cannot say that he = backyard)

The storm lasted all night. (adverb – When?) (We cannot say that storm = all night)

Syria now lies in ruins. (adverb – How?) (We cannot say that Syria = in ruins)

Adverbial Complement Vs. Adverbials

Adverbials are the words or phrases that function as an adverb, i.e. adverbs, adverb phrases etc.

Adverbial Complement are those Adverbials that function as a complement.

She is in the pool. (in the pool is an adverbial complement. It’s necessary to complete the sentence.)

He was walking rapidly. (rapidly is an adverbial adjunct. It’s not necessary to complete the sentence.)

Position of Adverbial Complements

Adverbial complements always appear after the verb they complement. There are two possible positions.

• If the verb is intransitive, the adverbial complement will come directly after the verb.

The dinner is on the table.

• If the verb is transitive, the adverbial complement will come after the direct object.

He placed the pizza in the oven.

• Adverb complements usually come at the end of a sentence. But if there are other adverbs too, then these complements will be placed before them.

Put the coin in the wallet at once. (Put the coin at once in the wallet.)

Katy Perry sang well last night. (Katy Perry sang last night well.)

What can function as Adverbial Complement?

• Adverbial complement may be an adverb/adverb phrase:

Your car is there. (adverb)

We have been travelling for three days. (adverb phrase)

• Adverbial complement may be an adverbial object (noun functioning as an adverb):

Jim went home. (adverbial object)

Extra Books and Tools

If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.