A practical english grammar - Vyssaja skola 1978

VERB + DIRECT OBJECT + NOUN ADJUNCT
Sound symbols

In this pattern, a verb is followed by two nouns, both of which name the same person or thing. It must be carefully distinguished from Pattern 5a, in which the two nouns name different persons or things.

We elected him president.

We made him our leader.

Compare this with Pattern 5a: We gave him the letter. (Him is an indirect object.)

A few verbs are ambiguous in this respect.

He called me a taxi. (Pattern 5a: He called a taxi for me.)

He called me a fool. (Pattern 15b: He said I was a fool.)

Here are examples of characteristic verbs followed by either adjective or noun structures:

believe him dishonest, believe him a great man­

call him foolish, call him a thief

consider him intelligent, consider him our leader

declare him incompetent, declare him king

make him happy, make him president

proclaim him free, proclaim him king

prove him right, prove him a great man

think him wrong, think him a liar

Here are some characteristic verbs followed by adjective structures alone:

find him wrong

judge him guilty

want it clean

Here are some characteristic verbs followed by noun structures alone:

appoint him secretary

choose him our leader

elect him president

name him Henry

The adjectival word used in Pattern 15a is often a past participle. When this hajjpens, Pattern 15a is very much like Pattern 11 (“I had it done”). The only difference is that Pattern 15a expresses a condition of the direct object, while Pattern 11 expresses something that happens to it.

We found dinner (already) prepared. (Pattern 15a)

We had dinner prepared. (Pattern 11)

The ambiguity here is inherent in the meaning of the past participle when it is used adjectivally: it may either describe the condition of its noun, as a result of something that has happened to it (a broken watch) or it may express an action (ship tossed by the waves).