# Object complement

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In [grammar](/source/Grammar), an **object complement** is a [predicative expression](/source/Predicative_expression) that follows a [direct object](/source/Direct_object) of an [attributive ditransitive](/source/Ditransitive_verb#Attributive_ditransitive_verbs) or [resultative verb](/source/Resultative) and that [complements](/source/Complement_(linguistics)) the direct object of the [sentence](/source/Sentence_(linguistics)) by describing it.[1][2][3] Object complements are [constituents](/source/Constituent_(linguistics)) of the [predicate](/source/Predicate_(grammar)). Noun phrases and adjective phrases most frequently function as object complements.[4]

## Examples

The object complement is bold in the following examples:

- - - She painted the barn **red**. – Adjective as object complement

Here, *painted* is an attributive ditransitive verb. The direct object is *the barn*. The object complement construction allows for the combination of the sentences *She painted the barn* and *The barn was painted red*.

- - - He considers you **a friend**. – Noun phrase as object complement

Here, *considers* is an attributive ditransitive verb. The direct object is *you*. The object complement construction allows for the combination of the sentences *He considers you* and *You are a friend*.

## See also

- [Direct object](/source/Object_(grammar)#Types)

- [Complement (linguistics)](/source/Complement_(linguistics))

- [Object (grammar)](/source/Object_(grammar))

- [Predicate (grammar)](/source/Predicate_(grammar))

- [Predicative expression](/source/Predicative_expression)

- [Resultative](/source/Resultative)

- [Subject complement](/source/Subject_complement)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Quirk, Randolph, Sidney Greenbaum, Jan Svartvik, & Geoffrey Leech. 1985. A comprehensive grammar of the English language. London: Longman.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Object complement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_complement) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_complement?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.