Complement vs. Object

Question

Is there any difference between Complement and Object?

Philip · Accepted Answer

There are two parts of a simple sentence: the subject and the predicate. The predicate will have a verb and may include a complement (adjective or adjective with an intransitive verb),or a direct object and/or an indirect object with a transitive verb). Sometimes the terms complement and object are confused/interchanged, but I prefer this distinction.
Welcome to the forums!

AMRsarker · Answer

Thank you!

PhilipSometimes the terms complement and object are confused/interchanged

Yes, still i am confused!

CalifJim · Answer

AMRsarker Is there any difference between Complement and Object?

Assuming you are using terms from transformational grammar, or whatever they're calling the new grammar these days, yes, yes, yes! They are two distinct things. Insofar as I understand it at all, all objects are complements, but not all complements are objects. 'complement' is a more inclusive idea.

If you are using terms from traditional grammar, the answer is similar. Complements and objects are different things.

1 His father is a chemist.
2 I know a chemist.

In the sentences above 'a chemist' is a (subject) complement in 1 and an object in 2.

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

CalifJim1 His father is a chemist.2 I know a chemist.In the sentences above 'a chemist' is a (subject) complement in 1 and an object in 2.

Thank you for this piece of information, Jim!

I've been wondering what to call words like a chemist in sentence #1 in English. This is because in Scandinavia this area of grammar the terms we use are completely different from what is said in grammar books written by native speakers of English.

I am pretty sure that no Scandinavian will have a clue as to what complement means when he reads about it in EF. Grammar terms often derive from Latin or Greek and therefore they resemble each other in different languages even though the spellings and pronunciations differ.

For example:
subject - English
subjekt - Swedish
subjekti - Finnish

adjective - English
adjektiv - Swedish
adjektiivi - Finnish

However, there's nothing that even remotely resembles complement in Swedish or Finnish. In these languages the terms predikativ and predikatiivi respectively are used to refer what you say is a subject complement in sentence 1. I do know that predicate is used in a totally different meaning in English. As far as I know, we use nothing in Finnish to convey the meaning of predicate. I think it's good for you and other Americans and Britons to know this as you may get questions from Scandinavians who understandably use terms they are familiar with - or their English translations - and you may be at your wits' end as to what on earth they are talking about.

The term predikaatti is used in Finnish to mean the finite verb or the main verb! In Swedish, predikat has the same meaning.

CalifJim · Answer

Cool Breezeyou may be at your wits' end as to what on earth they are talking about.

Yes, indeed. But then I am frequently in that state even in conversations with native English speakers!

Just to add fuel to the fire, in sentence 1, 'a chemist' is also called a 'predicate noun' or a 'predicate nominative'.

CJ

AMRsarker · Answer

thanks! Jim

CalifJimIn the sentences above 'a chemist' is a (subject) complement in 1 and an object in 2.

Can i call 'a chemist' in 2 as an object complement? it seems to me a complement, OR is it complement and object in the same time? because complement is the part of object, for this you called it object; am i right?

If so then, there are subject complement and object complement.

CalifJim · Answer

AMRsarkerCan i call 'a chemist' in 2 as an object complement? it seems to me a complement, OR is it complement and object in the same time?

This depends very much on the method being used in your course work and/or on what book you are using.

Traditional Grammar method: In 2 'a chemist' is not an object complement. It is simply an object, more specifically, a direct object. An object complement is a noun after an object that describes it somehow. The object complement in the sentence below is underlined. (The direct object itself is 'Mr. Stevens'.)

The committee named Mr. Stevens the director of public relations.

Within this system you must have an object before you can have an object complement.
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Transformational Grammar method: In 2 'a chemist' is an object, specifically, a direct object. All objects are complements in this system, so 'a chemist' is also a complement. In this method, the term 'object complement' is not usually used, but if it is, it means 'an object, therefore also a complement'.
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Try to find out which method applies in your case. It will make it easier for us to answer your questions.

CJ

AMRsarker · Answer

CalifJimIn this method, the term 'object complement' is not usually used, but if it is, it means 'an object, therefore also a complement'.

Thank you very much! Now it is clear to me!

Complement vs. Object

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