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Using Adjectives and Adjective Phrases as Object Complements

Using Adjectives and Adjective Phrases as Object Complements

Notional grammars define adjectives as words that modify or describe nouns. An adjective phrase is a phrase that consists of an adjective functioning as the head of the phrase plus any modifiers or complements.

In grammar, an object complement is a word, phrase, or clause that directly follows and describes or completes the direct object within the predicate of a clause. Adjectives and adjective phrases often function as object complements in English. Examples of adjectives and adjective phrases as noun phrase modifiers include the following:

  • The mayor declared the new park open. (adjective)
  • We painted the roses red. (adjective)
  • The citizens elected Benjamin Williams mayor. (adjective)
  • He found the book questionable. (adjective)
  • I consider studying grammar quite entertaining. (adjective phrase)
  • Why did you color your hair blue and black? (adjective phrase)
  • I once painted my bedroom walls bright pink. (adjective phrase)
  • The clown got the children overly excited. (adjective phrase)

Adjective Phrase as Object Complement

Adjective Phrase as Object Complement Grammar Tree

References

Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Using Adjectives and Adjective Phrases as Subject Complements

Using Adjectives and Adjective Phrases as Subject Complements

Grammatical Functions of English Adverbs and Adverb Phrases

Grammatical Functions of English Adverbs and Adverb Phrases