English Grammar Drills - Mark Lester 2009
3. Object + adjective complement
11 Multiple Verb Complements
Part 2 Verb Phrases
Some verbs, including many (but not all) of the verbs that take noun phrase + noun phrase complements, take object + adjective complements. Here are some examples:
Most uses of this complement type are phrases that allow very little substitution for the adjective object complement. For instance, in the four examples of this complement type given above, few of the adjectives will allow other adjective complements to be used with that verb.
In the first example
He drives me crazy.
we can only substitute a few close synonyms for crazy:
He drives me mad.
He drives me nuts.
In the second example
The proposal left us cold.
about the only substitute for cold is lukewarm:
The proposal left us lukewarm.
The same is true of the remaining two examples. We can only substitute guilty for innocent in the third example. In the fourth example, we can only substitute words for describing meat (such as rare, well-done, juicy, and pink) for medium-rare.
As is the case with noun phrase object complements, we can easily recognize adjective object complements because they must refer to the object. In the first example above, for instance:
He drives me crazy.
the adjective complement crazy can only refer to the object me.
Parallel to what we did with noun phrase object complements, we can represent the relationship between the adjective object complement and object by an equal sign (=). For example:
The proposal left us cold.
us = cold
The jury found them innocent of all charges.
them = innocent
I like my steak medium-rare.
my steak = medium-rare
Exercise 11.5
Underline and label the objects (Obj) and adjective complements (Adj Comp) in the following sentences. Confirm your answer by using an = sign to connect the adjective complement to the object.
1. The senator always gets his opponents angry at his absurd claims.
2. The insulated cover will keep the food cold for hours.
3. I like my chili blazing hot.
4. The press fi nds him quite entertaining.
5. I consider him trustworthy.
6. I need them ready by noon.
7. We painted the deck a light blue.
8. The evidence proves the original hypothesis correct.
9. I would rate their food only so-so.
10. We would like the presentation light and upbeat.
Many verbs that can take objects and object complements (both noun phrase and adjective complements) will also allow an alternate form with to be in front of the object complement. For example, in addition to the following object complements:
we have an alternative form with to be:
The forms with and without to be mean exactly the same thing. In fact, often native speakers would prefer to use the version with to be. While not every object complement can be used with the to be paraphrase, most can.
Exercise 11.6
Underline and label the objects and type of object complements (NP Comp or Adj Comp) in the following sentences, then insert to be between the object and the object complement.
1. We always found them kind and considerate.
2. I believed myself ready.
3. The jury must presume the defendant innocent.
4. I consider you a fair person.
5. The treasurer showed himself a wizard of financial control.
6. We just assumed the budget a done deal.
7. It is a mistake to think him a fool.
8. The court found the plaintiff’s claim valid.
9. I always maintained them one of the best companies in the business.
10. I confessed myself totally ignorant of what they were talking about.