English Grammar: Complements of Verbs

Complements — Direct Object

You have learned that every sentence must have a basic structure in order to express a complete thought. This basic structure may consist of only two parts, a subject noun or pronoun and a predicate verb or verb phrase. Many sentences require a third part or an additional word in order to express a complete thought. This additional word or group of words is necessary to complete the idea expressed by the verb.

The group of words, The men lifted, contains a subject noun men and a predicate verb lifted. Still it does not express a complete thought. A word is needed to tell what the men lifted. The sentence might be completed by adding the word beam. The completed sentence, The men lifted the beam, expresses a complete thought.

The word beam completes the meaning expressed by the verb lifted. For that reason it is called a complement or a completing word. The three essential parts of this sentence are the subject, the verb, and the complement. The complement is beam.

A complement completes the meaning expressed by a verb. The complement of a verb that expresses action is called the direct object of the verb. A direct object usually answers the questions what? or whom? In the preceding sentence the verb lifted expresses action. The complement beam tells what the men lifted. Notice how the complements in the following sentences complete the meaning of the verb.

I saw Evelyn at the convention. (Evelyn tells whom I saw.)

The engineer stopped the train. (Train tells what he stopped.)

The sailors saluted the captain. (tells whom they saluted)

She refused the invitation. (tells what she refused)

Some verbs that express action are complete without the addition of a complement. When such verbs are used in sentences, only two parts are essential — the subject and the verb. Study the following illustrations. You will readily see that the thought is complete without the addition of a complement.

Jane is singing. (complete thought)

The whistles are blowing. (complete thought)

We have been studying. (complete thought)

The boys are playing. (complete thought)

Although the verbs in the preceding sentences do not require a complement or a completing word, a complement might be added to some of them to make the meaning more explicit.

Jane is singing a ballad. (tells what Jane is singing)

We have been studying Spanish. (tells what we have been studying)

The boys are playing games. (tells what the boys are playing)

The direct object of a verb names the receiver of the action. It completes the meaning of the verb. A direct object is usually a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives and adverbs are never used as direct objects. Adjectives and adverbs are always used as modifiers. If you have any difficulty in deciding which word is the direct object, apply this test: Find the word that answers the question what? or whom? Apply the test in the following sentences:

The farmer planted the seeds in rows.

What did the farmer plant? The answer is, "He planted the seeds." The word seeds is the direct object of the verb planted. It tells what he planted.

I met Uncle Henry in the bank.

Whom did I meet? The answer is, "I met Uncle Henry." The direct object is Uncle Henry. It tells whom I met. A verb may take two or more direct objects. In this case, the verb or verb phrase has a compound object.

He grows orchids and lilies in his garden.

I met Jerry and Jane at the stadium.