Understanding SVOC Structure: Object and Complement After the Verb
Five Sentence Constructions
In English grammar, any clause that follows one of the structures below can function as an independent clause, also known as a complete sentence:
- SV (Subject-Verb)
- SVC (Subject-Verb-Complement)
- SVO (Subject-Verb-Object)
- SVOO (Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object)
- SVOC (Subject-Verb-Object-Complement)
Which structure is used is primarily determined by the main verb in the sentence. For example, the verb “run” is an intransitive verb and typically appears in the SV structure. In contrast, the verb “study” can appear in both SV and SVO structures, depending on the intended meaning.
These patterns help us distinguish complete sentences from incomplete ones. Among the five sentence structures, perhaps SV, SVC, and SVO are relatively easy to understand. However, the last two, SVOO and SVOC, are less straightforward.
In this article, we will focus on the SVOC structure, examining how it is formed and what the complement represents.
SVOC
Just as SVOO sentences contain two objects after the verb, SVOC structures contain an object and a complement following the verb. If you are still unsure about the function of complements, please take some time to review it in the following article.
In an SVC structure, the complement describes or identifies the subject. In an SVOC structure, however, the complement describes or identifies the object.
- SVC: The complement describes the subject
- SVOC: The complement describes the object
Note that in an SVOC structure, the complement doesn’t describe the subject, but the object that appears before it.
Depending on its form, a complement in SVC or SVOC can be realized by either a noun or an adjective.
- Complement realized by a Noun:
They elected him president.
A noun complement identifies or renames the object.
- Complement realized by an Adjective:
The teacher made the students quiet.
An adjective complement describes the state or condition of the subject or object.
Popular Verbs that Can Take SVOC
Note that not every verb can take SVOC sentence structure. Indeed, you can make the construction with some specific verbs. The following is a list of verbs that can make SVOC structure:
- make
- call
- elect
- consider
- keep
- find
- name
Now, let’s see how these verbs are used in sentences.
Example Sentences
We named our baby David.
- Subject: We
- Verb: named
- Object: our baby
- Complement: David
In this sentence, the complement follows the object. When a noun is used as the complement, it renames the object.
In other words, the sentence shows that our baby is called David.
I found myself confused during the interview.
- Subject: I
- Verb: found
- Object: myself
- Complement: confused
- Prepositional phrase: during the interview
The sentence above is another SVOC sentence. The verb “found” is followed by an object and a complement. This time, an adjective serves as the complement and describes the object’s condition.
The prepositional phrase “during the interview” is also added, but it is optional. Even without this phrase, the sentence is still complete. That is why we can analyze this sentence as SVOC.
