This article deals with a fairly complex topic, intended for those who have already studied the basic rules and have an idea of what a simple sentence, infinitive or addition is. A complex object in English is nothing more than a combination of the above grammatical concepts, in other words, it is a complex addition that is formed using an infinitive. Let's take a closer look at this topic and examples with translation. Read the grammar section carefully, and then come up with your own sentences that will help reinforce the learned rules.
How a Complex object is formed in English
This syntactic turn includes a nominal part, which can be expressed by a noun or a pronoun that is put in the object case - for example, like this: me, him, them, her, usand so on, and the verb in the infinitive form. That is, schematically this construction can be represented as follows:
object pronoun/noun + infinitive
For example:
- I want her to answer me as soon as possible. - I want her to answer me as soon as possible.
- Anna thought her sister was at school. - Anna thought her sister to be at school.
- He felt someone hit him. - He felt somebody punched him.
- Dr. Thompson told me to take these cold pills. - Doctor Thompson told me to take this anti-cold medicine.
These were examples of using the Complex object, its construction is in italics. It is usually translated into Russian with the help of subordinate clauses with the unions "what" or "to". In oral speech, it is used quite rarely, but in writing its use is much more common.
Complex object in English: use cases
This construction is most often used with verbs of visual or sensory perception, such as see (see something), hear (hear someone, something), notice (notice, notice), feel (feel that -or). Also remember that after such verbs, the particle -to is not put, for example:
- I didn't notice somebody exit the cinema. - I didn't notice anyone leaving the cinema.
- I have never seen him doing any sport activities. - I've never seen him play sports.
- They noticed her give them a sign. - They noticed that she gave them a sign.
Remember also, Complex object in English is used with verbs expressing mental activity, such as consider (consider), advise (advise) and so on, for example:
- All of us consider her to be stupid. - We all thought she wasn't smart.
- I expect him to send me an e-mail next one hour. - I expect him to email me in an hour.
Also remember that a similar construction is used with verbs of preference for something, for example, with want (want something), wish (wish something), like (like) and others. For example:
- She would like her daughter to be a model. - She would like her daughter to become a model.
- Anna and my mom don't want us to go Turkey. - Anna and my mother don't want us to go to Turkey.
Also, the English Complex object should always be used if you want to make a sentence with the verbs let (to allow), make (to force), force (to force), have (to force). Moreover, get, as well as make and have in this construction are used without the "to" particle. For example:
- What make him choose this job, I really wonder? - I really wonder what exactly made him choose this job?
- I hope our team will have the company to sign these contracts - I hope our team will get the company to sign these contracts.
And as an exception, Complex object is used with the verbs to announce, to declare, to pronounce. Consider as an example:
They declare Maria Sharapova to be a winner in that tennis tournament. - They declared Maria Sharapova the winner of that tennis competition
As you can see, although this turnover is quite difficult to master, and the topic contains a lot of information to remember, its use is important when you want to show excellent knowledge of the language. It is also good to use it when composing letters and other correspondence, as well as to correctly understand articles and other texts.
