Object complement
Definition
An object complement follows a direct object and identifies, renames, or describes that object. The direct object and object complement refer to the same person or thing.
Examples
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They painted the door red.
The door is the direct object, and red describes its resulting state.
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The team elected Maya captain.
Captain identifies the role assigned to Maya.
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We found the room empty.
Empty describes the object the room.
Object complement vs. second object
They gave Maya a key.
Maya receives a separate thing, a key.
They elected Maya captain.
Captain identifies Maya; it is not a separate participant or thing.
A second object refers to something distinct. An object complement refers back to and characterizes the direct object.
Object complements can describe a state, identity, or result
Adjectives and noun phrases commonly function as object complements after verbs such as make, keep, find, consider, name, elect, and paint.
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The news made everyone anxious.
Anxious describes the state caused in everyone.
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They named the puppy Luna.
Luna renames the direct object the puppy.
Common mistakes
They painted red the door.
They painted the door red.
The direct object normally comes before its object complement.
We found that the room empty.
We found the room empty.
In this object-complement pattern, use find + object + adjective without that.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence contains an adjective object complement?
Angry describes the direct object Leo.Which sentence contains a noun-phrase object complement?
Chairperson identifies the role assigned to Maya.Which sentence contains two distinct objects rather than an object complement?
Leo receives the separate direct object a message.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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