Object Complement + Prepositional Phrase?

Question

Hey, CJ! Thank you for your help.I just can't understand; I am very confused.Prepositional verbs can't be separated from its verb, so accuse him of doing it couldn't be considered to be a prepositional verb, what are verbs such as: Accussed him of doing, Protected him from, Prevented it from happening.. called?It's just hard, I find about 50 different definitions.I just can't understand what the function of "of" is in that sentence, why can't I just consider it to be an object complement? So confusing!!I find complex transitive verbs, ditransitive verbs, factitive verbs, two-word verbs, three-word verbs, prepositiona verbs, phrasal verbs..

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

ProdigyPrepositional verbs can't be separated from its verb

??? Verbs can't be separated from its verb? That makes no sense.

Whatever you mean by that, I think it's wrong, or as you say, maybe you are very confused.

Monotransitive verbs. Verbs that take one complement. Jack threw the ball.
Ditransitive verbs. Verbs that take two complements. Jack gave Bob the ball.

Monotransitive prepositional verbs. Verbs that always take one complement preceded by the same preposition. We rely on the boss.
Ditransitive prepositional verbs. Verb that take two complements, the second one always preceded by the same preposition. We thanked the committee for their hard work.

Prodigywhat are verbs such as 'accused him of doing' ... 'prevented it from happening' called?

Ditransitive prepositional verbs.

ProdigyI just can't understand what the function of "of" is in that sentence, why can't I just consider it to be an object complement?

A preposition can't be a complement of any kind. You can't say "of is an object complement". Nothing you read is going to tell you that. And no noun after the preposition 'of' is going to be an object complement either.

One problem is that the word 'complement' is used in several ways. Be careful about this.

A subject complement is the noun or adjective after a linking verb that attributes something of the subject. Mr. Smith is a teacher.
An object complement is the noun of adjective after a direct object which attributes something of the object. We consider Mr. Smith a teacher.
And the word 'complement' by itself means any phrase or clause that occurs after a verb in order to complete its meaning.

ProdigyI find about 50 different definitions.

If your goal is to speak and understand English and to read and write it, I'm sure you won't need all those definitions. In fact, you don't even need all these definitions of prepositional verbs, transitive verbs, object complements, etc. Thousands of people have learned English without learning all these details.

CJ

Object Complement + Prepositional Phrase?

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