English is one of the most widely used languages in the world, and its grammatical structure and vocabulary are very complex. In particular, one of the important elements in English sentences is the complement and objective complement. This article will delve deeply into the complement and the base infinitive (v) objective complement.
1. Definition and Role of the Complement
A complement is a part of speech that serves to complete the subject and verb in a sentence, describing the state or action of the subject. The complement explains what the subject is and what the state of the subject is, enriching the meaning of the subject. For example, traditionally, the nominative complement is often used with the ‘be verb’, but various forms of complements exist.
1.1. Nominative Complement
A nominative complement serves to describe the subject and carries the same meaning as the subject. Nominative complements are primarily used with the ‘be verb’ and take the form of adjectives or nouns.
- Example: She is a teacher.
- Example: The sky is blue.
1.2. Objective Complement
An objective complement serves to complete the object, clarifying the target of the action. It is usually positioned after the verb and can take the form of a base infinitive, adjective, or noun.
- Example: I consider him talented.
- Example: They elected him president.
2. Understanding Base Infinitive (v) Objective Complement
The base infinitive (v) objective complement is a structure in which a base infinitive follows the object, explaining the action or state of that object. This structure is primarily used with specific verbs. The base infinitive (v) objective complement frequently appears with verbs such as ‘make’, ‘let’, ‘have’, and ‘help’.
2.1. ‘Make’ and the Base Infinitive
‘Make’ means ‘to cause to do’ and can be followed by a base infinitive. In this case, ‘make’ gives a feeling of forcing the subject to perform some action.
- Example: The teacher made me cry.
- Example: She made him laugh.
2.2. ‘Let’ and the Base Infinitive
‘Let’ means ‘to allow’ and is used when allowing the subject to act of their own volition. ‘Let’ also employs the base infinitive.
- Example: My parents let me go out.
- Example: He let her choose.
2.3. ‘Have’ and the Base Infinitive
‘Have’ means ‘to cause someone to do’ and is used with the base infinitive. In this case, the subject is requesting or instructing someone else to perform an action.
- Example: I had her call you.
- Example: He has them finish their homework.
2.4. ‘Help’ and the Base Infinitive
‘Help’ means ‘to assist’ and is used to convey a nuance of helping or advising the object. In this case, the base infinitive can be used.
- Example: She helped me understand the topic.
- Example: They helped him fix the car.
3. Relationship Between the Complement and Base Infinitive
The complement and base infinitive (v) objective complement perform similar functions in a sentence, but their contextual use differs. The complement focuses on describing the state of the subject or supplementing the object, while the base infinitive emphasizes what the subject of the action is.
4. Conclusion
Understanding the complement and base infinitive (v) objective complement is very important when learning English sentences. Through these, the meaning of sentences can be enriched, and various expressions can be used. Systematically learning these elements can significantly enhance English proficiency and greatly aid in real-life communication.
English grammar may seem complex at first glance, but once you understand the important concepts, it becomes much easier to access. Through this article, I hope you gain a deep understanding of the concepts and actual usage of complements and base infinitive (v) objective complements.