Basic Clause PatternsTo see the third parallel with subject complements, we must observe
the semantic relation between the direct object and its complement. If you
consider carefully the sentences in (104) and (105), you will notice that
the semantic relations between the object and its complement are BE and
BECOME. For instance, in (104c) the room becomes a ghastly color. Here
again the semantic role associated with the complement is Attribute.
The final similarity between subject and object complements is that the
complement phrase and the subject or object to which it is semantically
linked refer to the same entity or entities. We indicate this by identically
subscripting the object and the complement:
(107)a. NP AUX [VPV NPi NPi]
b. NP AUX [VPV NPi APi]
Object complements have one further defining trait, the meaning of the
head verb. Examine Table 2 to see if you can identify any semantic common
denominators.
appoint call choose consider
declare designate elect find
imagine make name paint prove
table 2. typical object complement verbs
The two semantic classes that unite most of these words are CONSIDER
TO BE (consider, imagine, think) and CAUSE TO BECOME (most of the
others), illustrated by the examples in (108) and (109), respectively.
(108)a. We find his conclusion ridiculous.
b. They called each other liars.
(109)a. The president named him Secretary of the Bubblegum Department.
b. The children painted all the walls kelly green.Object complement verbs, just like subject complement verbs, have a vari-
ety of meanings, not all of them compatible with object complements. The
(a) version of each clause below contains an object complement; the (b)
versions contain the same verb in a different pattern.
(110)a. We declared Woople the winner.
b. We declared a holiday. (Pattern 2)
(111)a. Scott and Zelda painted the town red.