Is Adjective An Object? 7 Facts (Read This First!)

The placement of an “Adjective” as an “Object” in a sentence can be learned easily with facts and examples of this article.

An authentic and traditional adjective of English language doesn’t work as a ‘Direct Object’ but as ‘Object Complement’ of a direct object.

1. Anushka is buying handkerchief white.
2. Pijush is driving bus harsh.
3. I will cook breakfast healthy.
4. My son wants to buy a toy brown.
5. We are going to purchase a house new.

Explanation 1 – Here the subject is ‘Anushka’ and the direct object is ‘handkerchief’. Now, the adjective ‘white’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Explanation 2 – Here the subject is ‘Pijush’ and the direct object is ‘bus’. Now, the adjective ‘harsh’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Explanation 3 – Here the subject is ‘I’ and the direct object is ‘breakfast’. Now, the adjective ‘healthy’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Explanation 4 – Here the subject is ‘My son’ and the direct object is ‘a toy’. Now, the adjective ‘brown’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Explanation 5 – Here the subject is ‘We’ and the direct object is ‘a house’. Now, the adjective ‘new’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Can an adjective be considered as object?

An adjective of English language acts as a modifier of noun, noun equivalent or pronoun. A noun, pronoun or noun equivalent can be both subject and object. Again object can be classified in three types.

Type One – Direct Object

Type Two – Indirect Object

Type Three – Object of a Preposition

There is a term called ‘Object Complement’. An object complement works for ‘Direct Object’. An Object complement can be either noun or adjective. Thus, we can say that an ‘Adjective’ sometime works as an ‘Object Complement’.

Example – My daughter painted the car red.

Explanation –

Here the subject is ‘my daughter’ and the direct object is ‘the car’. Now, the adjective ‘red’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

When is an adjective considered as object?

An adjective can be marked as an ‘Object Complement’ in below listed situations.

Situation 1 – When an adjective modify the ‘Direct Object’ then it can be marked as an ‘Object Complement.

Situation 2 – When an adjective modify the ‘noun’ of direct object then it can be marked as an ‘Object Complement.

Situation 3 – When an adjective modify the ‘noun equivalent’ of direct object then it can be marked as an ‘Object Complement.

Situation 4 – When an adjective modify the ‘pronoun’ of direct object then it can be marked as an ‘Object Complement.

Example – I found the book ‘David Copperfield’ monotonous.

Explanation –

Here the subject is ‘I’ and the direct object is ‘David Copperfield’. Now, the adjective ‘monotonous’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

How is an adjective considered as object?

An adjective can be marked as an ‘object complement’ while performing any of the following functions.

Function 1 – When an adjective completes meaning of the ‘Verb’ which is acting upon the ‘Direct Object’. That verb must be ‘Transitive Active Verb’.

Function 2 – When an adjective modifies the ‘Direct Object’ of the sentence.

Function 3 – When an adjective names the ‘Direct Object’ of the sentence.

Function 4 – When an adjective renames the ‘Direct Object’ of the sentence.

Function 5 – When an adjective fulfill the ‘Direct Object’ of the sentence within the ‘Predicate’ of a clause.

Example – All the toys made the children overjoyed.

Explanation –

Here the subject is ‘toys’ and the direct object is ‘children’. Now, the adjective ‘overjoyed’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Why is an adjective considered as object?

Adjectives are those words which modify or describe noun, pronoun or noun equivalent of a sentence. Those noun, noun equivalent or pronoun can be both subject and object of a sentence. Now an adjective can be marked as an ‘Object Complement’ if it is related with ‘Object’ of a sentence.

To mark an adjective as an ‘Object Complement’ we must observe the ‘Transitive Verb’ of the sentence because only the direct object which is the receiver of the transitive verb can be modified by ‘Object Complement’.

Example – Sandip colored his hair brown.

Explanation –

Here the subject is ‘toys’ and the direct object is ‘children’. Now, the adjective ‘overjoyed’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

What are object complement adjectives?

An object complement is a word or word phrase which complements ‘Direct Object’ of a sentence. An object complement can be any of the following.

1. Noun
2. Adjective
3. Adjective Phrase

Adjectives which directly follow the ‘Direct Object’ of a sentence to complement the same can be marked as an ‘Object Complement’. An ‘Object Complement’ must complete the meaning of the active transitive verb within the ‘Predicate’ of that particular sentence or clause.

Example – Zoo keepers kept the zoo open due to Christmas evening.

Explanation –

Here the subject is ‘Zoo keepers’ and the direct object is ‘zoo’. Now, the adjective ‘open’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Examples of object complement adjective-

Example 1 – The chairman kept the complain box open.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘the chairman’ and the direct object is ‘complain box’. Now, the adjective ‘open’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 2 – We decorated the house white.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘We’ and the direct object is ‘house’. Now, the adjective ‘white’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 3 – Students like to read books new.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘students’ and the direct object is ‘books’. Now, the adjective ‘new’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 4 – Mina considers reading English novels entertaining.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘Mina’ and the direct object is ‘English novels’. Now, the adjective ‘entertaining’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 5 – The circus kept the children excited.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘the circus’ and the direct object is ‘children’. Now, the adjective ‘excited’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 6 – Sandip kept the book open.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘Sandip’ and the direct object is ‘book’. Now, the adjective ‘open’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 7 – Sandip is painting the tree green.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘Sandip’ and the direct object is ‘tree’. Now, the adjective ‘green’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 8 – I found the song of Mina boring.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘I’ and the direct object is ‘song of Mina’. Now, the adjective ‘boring’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 9 – Rina is cooking meal delicious.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘Rina’ and the direct object is ‘meal’. Now, the adjective ‘delicious’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 10 – The boss stored his documents secret.

Explanation 10 – Here the subject is ‘the boss’ and the direct object is ‘documents’. Now, the adjective ‘secret’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Example 11 – We crafted the table cloth green.

Explanation – Here the subject is ‘We’ and the direct object is ‘table cloth’. Now, the adjective ‘green’ can be marked as ‘Object Complement’ because it is describing the direct object.

Conclusion –

There are three types of objects in sentences of English language. Those three objects are direct object, indirect object and object of a preposition. We must keep in mind that an adjective can be an ‘Object Complement’ to complement only ‘Direct Object’.