Note these examples:

34. Objective Complement.

They called him John.

This news makes us glad.

The word John completes the predicate verb called. For the thought intended is not "They called him"; it is completely expressed only when we tell what they called him, namely, John.

The word glad completes the predicate verb makes. For the thought intended is not "This news makes us"; it is completely expressed only when we tell how the news makes us feel, namely, glad.

Again, while the words John and glad complete the predicate verb, they each relate to the direct object, John to him and glad to us, in the way of explaining or describing the direct object.

For additional examples, note how the italicized word completes the predicate verb and explains or describes the direct object:

We elected him chairman.
They dyed the cloth green.
We appointed him guardian.

Sometimes a group of words is used to complete the predicate verb and to explain or describe the direct object; thus,

We found him in trouble.

You have made me what I am.

A word or a group of words used to complete the predicate verb and to explain or describe the direct object is called an objective complement.*

*The Joint Committee on Grammatical Nomenclature recommends the term Adjunct Accusative instead of the term Objective Complement.

An objective complement is a word or a group of words used to complete the predicate verb and to explain or describe the direct object.

An objective complement is used after verbs of making, choosing, calling, naming, electing, and the like.

The predicate verb and objective complement may be equivalent to a single verb; thus,

This makes me tired (tires me).

They made him a knight (knighted him).

An objective complement may be a noun, as Ye call me chief; or a pronoun, as What do you call it? (You do call it what?); or an adjective, as This makes me happy.

EXERCISE 22

(1) Supply an appropriate word as objective complement and tell of what part of speech it is:

(2) Point out the objective complement in each sentence and tell of what part of speech it is:

Models for written exercise:

We call her Aunt Sarah. We call Aunt Sarah | her

He sang himself hoarse. He sang hoarse himself

(An objective complement is placed between the verb and the direct object to show that it completes the predicate verb. The mark indicating an objective complement points toward the direct object, with the pointer above if the complement is a substantive, below if the complement is an adjective.)

1. They proclaimed him king.

2. Tyranny makes men rebellious.

3. Sloth makes all things difficult.

4. We have declared the throne vacant.

5. The French took young Chaucer prisoner.

6. They have appointed him commander-in-chief.

7. Cromwell made England once more a great power.

8. The doctor has pronounced the disease incurable.

9. After the flight of Pompey, Caesar made himself master of Italy.

10. The Convention of 1689 elected William and Mary joint sovereigns.

(2) Point out the complement in each sentence and tell whether it is subjective, objective, or direct object:

1. He praised himself.

2. The committee proved weak.

3. Own a fault if you are wrong.

4. Louis XVI was a very weak king.

5. Napoleon hated anarchy and disorder.

6. Napoleon became the idol of the soldiery.

7. We found the young ruler daring and reckless.

8. Before men made us citizens, great nature made us men. 9. King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport.

10. The Romans used cotton fabrics long before the Christian era.

CHAPTER V

MODIFIERS

35. Modifier Defined. We have learned (15) that a word used to alter or limit the meaning of another word is said to modify the word and is called a modifier; thus,

I met a little cottage girl.

A, little, and cottage are modifiers of the noun girl. Often a group of words is used as a modifier. Note these examples:

He is a man of wealth (a wealthy man).
Handle this glass with care (carefully).

We need men who are skilled (skilled men).

A modifier is a word or a group of words used to modify or limit the meaning of another word.

All modifiers belong to one of two general classes; namely,

(1) Adjectival modifiers, or modifiers of substantives. (2) Adverbial modifiers, or modifiers of verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.

Adjectives (15), adverbs (17), and participles (23) have already been mentioned.

Two adjectival modifiers, namely, possessives and appositives, and one adverbial modifier, namely, indirect object, will be discussed in this chapter..

Groups of words as modifiers will be treated when phrases and clauses are taken up (chapters VII and VIII).

EXERCISE 23
(Review)

Point out the adjectives, adverbs, and participles, and tell what each of these words modifies:

Models for written exercise:

(1) This little boy has been rightly praised.

(2) Hearing a voice, we turned aside quickly.

(Note that modifiers are placed under the word modified and are connected with it by a vertical line.)

1. Affection never was wasted.
2. The morning cock crew loud.
3. Who is the person helping you?
4. Smiling, she spoke these words.
5. A penny saved is a penny gained.
6. He made many vainglorious boasts.
7. Two stout horses were soon provided.
8. A hard beginning maketh a good ending.
9. This wild enthusiast never could rest.
10. He was a short, square-built old fellow.
11. Did ever painted saint have such a halo?
12. What beggar pities not a begging prince?
13. A beautiful face is a silent commendation.
14. So saying, he walked away, and left all the other
boys behind.

15. At the first low moaning of the distant cloud, my
heart shrinks.