LoginComplex Transitive Verbs
This lesson delves into the complexities of complex transitive verbs, exploring their roles in different grammatical structures and contexts. It offers comprehensive explanations, advanced exercises, and a quiz.
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 a direct object and an 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 happy.
adjective
I will make her a movie star.
noun phrase
I will make her mine.
pronoun
She held her head high.
adverb
She put the keys on the table.
prepositional phrase
I found her sleeping on the couch.
a present participle clause
Childhood experiences make us who we are.
nominal relative clause
I consider him to be a gentleman.
to-infinitive clause
Tip!
The object of a complex transitive verbs can be a pronoun, noun phrase, or noun clause. The only difference between them is that noun clauses cannot take pronouns or nominal relative clauses as their object complement.
She called what happened a disaster.
Noun clause + Noun phrase
She had what was blocking the door aside.
Noun clause + Adverb
Warning!
Only adverbs of place can be used as object complement. You are not allowed to use adverbs of time or frequency or manner as an object complement. Check out the examples:
✗We found him amusingly.
✗We understand our child always.
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 her sad.
I consider you my best friend.
Tip!
Many complex transitive verbs can also be used as transitive verbs without an object complement. However, the meaning of the verb typically differs in transitive usage compared to the complex transitive usage.
I found Tina.
I found Tina fascinating.
Passive Voice
Sentences with complex-transitive verbs can be transformed into the passive voice. In doing so, the direct object becomes the subject of the passive sentence while the object complement remains in its original position.
They made him a star.
He was made a star. (Not 'A star was made him.')
Ditransitive vs. Complex Transitive Verbs
When the object complement of a complex transitive verb is a noun phrase, the difference between ditransitive verbs and complex transitive verbs can become confusing. In order to distinguish between the two types of verbs, pay attention to the noun phrase that comes after the object. If the noun phrases following the object refer to the same person/thing as the object, the main verb is a complex transitive verb. If the noun phrase following the object does not refer to the same person/thing, the main verb is ditransitive verb.
I consider Jake my best friend.
Answer this question: Do Jake and 'my best friend' refer to the same person?
I made Jake a sandwich.
Answer this question: Do Jake and 'dinner' refer to the same person/thing?
Review
Complex transitive verbs, such as think, consider, call, make, find, etc. take a direct object and an object complement as their complements. The object can be a pronoun, noun phrase, or noun clause, while the object complement can be:
Adjective (Phrases)
Noun (Phrases)
Pronouns
Adverbs (Phrases)
Prepositional Phrases
Participles
Nominal Relative Clauses
To-Infinitive Clauses
Quiz:
Sort the words to form a sentence with a participle clause as the object complement.
Match each sentence with the correct type of object complement.
Select all complex transitive verbs from the list. (Select five.)
write
call
sleep
find
give
laugh
prove
consider
wear
believe
Which option is the correct passive equivalent of the sentence "The committee considered her proposal brilliant."
Her proposal was considered by the committee brilliant.
Brilliant was considered her proposal by the committee.
Her proposal was considered brilliant by the committee.
Her proposal was considered by the committee.
Identify whether the verb in each sentence is ditransitive or complex transitive.
| Sentence | Verb type |
|---|---|
They would elect whoever steps up team captain. | |
She gave Jake a gift. | |
She considers his behavior unacceptable. | |
He sent me a letter. | |
They named the baby Lily. |
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