An object or a complement?

Question

I'd be glad of your help.e.g. They consider it as social equality.According to a dictionary, the preposition “as” takes a complement. In my opinion, the preposition should take an object instead of a complement. Especially a verb such as consider, think of, look upon seems applicable in this case. Could you tell me why a complement not an object?Thanks in advance.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

I agree with your dictionary: They consider it to be social equality. (clearly copular)

I was about to add that I'd hedge on "They treat it as social equality," but I'm changing my mind.

BillJ · Answer

AnonymousI'd be glad of your help.e.g. They consider it as social equality.According to a dictionary, the preposition “as” takes a complement. In my opinion, the preposition should take an object instead of a complement. Especially a verb such as consider, think of, look upon seems applicable in this case. Could you tell me why a complement not an object?

Your dictionary is correct - the prep "as" does take a complement. In your example, its complement is the predicative "social equality". "As" is the most common prep taking a predicative complement (it's the prepositional analogue of the verb "be")

In your example "it" is the direct object of "consider", and the whole prep phrase "as social equality" is functioning as a predicative complement that is related to it, cf. "I consider him a fool", where "a fool" is predicative complement related to the object "him".

BillJ

An object or a complement?

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