Describing the Object — Subject + Verb + Object + Complement (SVOC)
Master the trickiest pattern: when the complement describes the object, not the subject.
Describing the Object — Subject + Verb + Object + Complement (SVOC)
Try This First
“They elected him president.”
We know: “They” = subject, “elected” = verb, “him” = object. But what about “president”?
“President” doesn’t describe “they.” It describes “him.” He BECAME president as a result.
This is SVOC — and the key is: the complement describes the OBJECT, not the subject.
The SVOC Pattern
| Subject | Verb | Object | Object Complement |
|---|---|---|---|
| They | elected | him | president |
| The news | made | her | happy |
| I | found | the movie | boring |
| She | painted | the wall | blue |
| We | consider | him | a genius |
🔵 Subject + 🔴 Verb + 🟢 Object + 🟠 Object Complement (describes object)The complement describes the OBJECT:
- They elected him → him became president
- The news made her → her became happy
- She painted the wall → the wall became blue
Think about it: “The news made her happy.” Does “happy” describe “the news” or “her”?
Her! The news didn’t become happy. SHE became happy because of the news. This is SVOC, not SVC.
SVOC vs SVC: The Test
| SVC (complement = subject) | SVOC (complement = object) |
|---|---|
| “She is happy.” (She = happy) | “The news made her happy.” (Her = happy) |
| “He became a leader.” (He = leader) | “They elected him leader.” (Him = leader) |
Quick test: Ask “WHAT does the complement describe?” If it’s the subject → SVC. If it’s the object → SVOC.
Common SVOC Verbs
elect, name, make, consider, find, declare, paint, keep, call, appoint, prove, think.
Common Mistake: Missing the Object
❌ “They elected president.” (Elected WHOM?) ✅ “They elected him president.”
The object is REQUIRED. Without it, the complement has nothing to describe.
Practice
Identify SVOC:
- “They named their daughter Priya.” → SVOC (daughter = Priya)
- “She is a doctor.” → SVC (no object!)
- “I found the answer correct.” → SVOC (answer = correct)
Complete the sentence:
- “They elected her __________.” → president/captain/leader
- “The experience made him __________.” → stronger/wiser/confident
Before You Move On
Before moving on, make sure you can identify SVOC and distinguish it from SVC!
Key Takeaways
- SVOC = Subject + Verb + Object + Object Complement.
- Complement describes the OBJECT.
- Object is REQUIRED.
- Test: “What does the complement describe?”
Next Step
In Lesson 7, we’ll explore the last two patterns — when verbs need where, when, or how to make sense. Like “He lives in Mumbai” and “She put the book on the shelf.” These are the adverbial patterns.