Complex Transitive Verbs
There are five basic types of verbs: intransitive, linking, mono-transitive, di-transitive and complex-transitive verbs. In this lesson, we'll discuss the last.
What Are Complex Transitive Verbs?
A complex transitive verb (also known as an attributive ditransitive verb or a resultative verb) is a verb that needs both a direct object and an object complement.
Complex transitive verbs may have two objects, but they function differently.
They called
The object in this sentence is 'him'. 'Robinson Crusoe is the object complement.
Object Complements
The object complements (also known as the object predicate or the object predicative) are parts of the predicate that come after a direct object and complement the direct object by describing it. They can be:
I will make her
I will make her
I will make her
I chose her
I found her
Childhood experiences make us
I consider him
Put the turkey
make is a complex transitive verb
Tip!
Only adverbs of place can be placed directly after the direct object of a transitive verb. You are not allowed to use adverbs of time or frequency or manner as an object complement. Check out the examples:
✗We found him
✗We understand our child
Common Complex Transitive Verbs
Common complex transitive verbs in English are:
- make
- call
- find
- turn into
- keep
- believe
- prove
- consider
- think
That mean comment made
I consider
Tip!
Many complex transitive verbs can also be used as transitive verbs without an object complement. It's important to note that they may have a different meaning when used transitively compared to their complex transitive form.
I found
I found
Passive Voice
The direct object of complex-transitive verbs can be transformed into the passive voice. Note that it is the direct object and not the object complement that allows the sentence to be changed into a passive construction.
They made
A star was made him.')
Ditransitive vs. Complex Transitive Verbs
In order to know the difference between a ditransitive verb and a complex transitive verb, you need to pay attention to the noun phrases that occur after the transitive verbs:
I consider Jake
Answer this question: Do Jake and 'my best friend' refer to the same person?
If the noun phrases following the verb refer to the same person/thing, the main verb is a complex transitive verb.
I made Jake
Answer this question: Do Jake and 'dinner' refer to the same person?
If the noun phrases following the verb do not refer to the same person/thing, the main verb is ditransitive verb.
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Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
'She smiled beautifully'. 'She started a rumor'. One of these sentences has an intransitive verb and one has a transitive one. Want to know the difference?
Ditransitive Verbs
Ditransitive verbs are transitive verbs that take two objects. A direct object and an indirect object. Follow the article to read more about them.
Ergative Verbs
Ergative verbs are a type of verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive. In this lesson, we will learn more about this type of verbs.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs are connectors of the language. Their only job is to link a subject with a subject complement. Want to know how?
