174 Verb Phrases
Exercise 11.4
Underline and label the noun phrases that follow the verbs in the following sentences, using Obj
ϩ NP Comp and IO ϩ DO for the two complement types. Confi rm your answer by showing both
tests: the ϭ/ test and the to/for paraphrase.
Obj NP Comp
The critics considered her latest book a great success.
ϭ/ test: her latest book ϭ a great success
to/for paraphrase: X The critics considered a great success to/for her latest book.
1. I have often wished myself a better person. 2. The board considers the CEO a great natural leader. 3. We told them the truth. 4. The President appointed her Undersecretary of State for Latin Affairs. 5. The newspaper named AMPEX Corporation the company of the year. 6. Senator Blather considered himself an expert on foreign affairs. 7. I told them my name.(i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 174 3/16/09 12:34:15 PM

Adj
Obj ϭ Comp
He drives me ϩ crazy.
Adj
Obj ϭ Comp
The proposal left us ϭ cold.
Obj ϭ Adj Comp
The jury found them ϩ innocent of all charges.
Obj ϭ Adj Comp
I like my steak ϩ medium-rare.
Most uses of this complement type are phrases that allow very little substitution for the
adjective object complement. For instance, in the four examples of this complement type given
above, few of the adjectives will allow other adjective complements to be used with that verb.
In the fi rst example
He drives me crazy.
we can only substitute a few close synonyms for crazy:
He drives me mad.
He drives me nuts.
In the second example
The proposal left us cold.
about the only substitute for cold is lukewarm:
The proposal left us lukewarm.
The same is true of the remaining two examples. We can only substitute guilty for innocent in the
third example. In the fourth example, we can only substitute words for describing meat (such as
rare, well-done, juicy, and pink) for medium-rare.
As is the case with noun phrase object complements, we can easily recognize adjective object
complements because they must refer to the object. In the fi rst example above, for instance:
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Multiple Verb Complements 177
He drives me crazy.

example, in addition to the following object complements:
Obj NP Comp
I always imagined him a wealthy man.
Adj
Obj Comp
I always imagined him taller.
we have an alternative form with to be:
Obj NP Comp
I always imagined him to be a wealthy man.
Adj
Obj Comp
I always imagined him to be taller.
The forms with and without to be mean exactly the same thing. In fact, often native speakers
would prefer to use the version with to be. While not every object complement can be used with
the to be paraphrase, most can.
Exercise 11.6
Underline and label the objects and type of object complements (NP Comp or Adj Comp) in the
following sentences, then insert to be between the object and the object complement.
Obj NP Comp
The board chose her the next CEO of the company.
The board chose her to be the next CEO of the company.
1. We always found them kind and considerate.
2. I believed myself ready.
3. The jury must presume the defendant innocent.
4. I consider you a fair person.
5. The treasurer showed himself a wizard of fi nancial control.
6. We just assumed the budget a done deal.
7. It is a mistake to think him a fool.
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Multiple Verb Complements 179

Bring means “toward the speaker,” and take means “away from the speaker.” For example:
Please bring the books to me. (toward the speaker)
Please bring the books here. (toward the speaker)
Please take the books to his office. (away from the speaker)
Please take the book there. (away from the speaker)
Exercise 11.7
Decide whether bring or take is more appropriate in the following sentences.
Can you (bring
/take) me to the airport?
1. Can you (bring/take) me home after the meeting?
2. Did you (bring/take) the visitors to the Art Gallery in Old Town?
3. I can (bring/take) them back here, if you like.
4. The van will (bring/take) you to where the ship will dock.
5. Let me (bring/take) you out to dinner tonight.
6. Please (bring/take) the kids back here after the movie.
7. (Bring/Take) your umbrella if you go out to lunch.
8. Why did you (bring/take) them there?
9. The trash collectors fi nally (brought/took) away the old Christmas tree.
10. Look at the trash along the shoreline that the high tide (brought/took) in.
5. Object ϩ that clause
Some verbs can take an object followed by a that clause. For example:
Obj that clause
I told him that his plan was very risky.
Obj that clause
We reminded the kids that it was time to go to bed.
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