Alice & Objective Complements

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?

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. 

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 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.

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. They elected my uncle mayor.

3. His family calls him Dave. 

4. My dad made the chili very spicy.

5. This music makes me happy!

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.

They elected my uncle mayor.

They = pronoun & subject 

elected = transitive active verb

my = possessive pronoun/adjective

uncle = noun & direct object

mayor = noun & 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. 

This music makes me happy!

music = pronoun & subject 

This = adjective

makes = transitive active verb

me = pronoun & direct object

happy = adjective & OC

This was taken right after Alice was born.