Predicative complement

The predicative object is an adjectival phrase (much more rarely, a nominal or prepositional phrase, infinitive or gerund) in which two functions are mixed: that of an attribute of a noun or pronoun (usually the subject or the direct object of the sentence), and that of the circumstantial object of a verb. That is, a kind of mixed complement between both functions. It appears only in predicate-type sentences.

Predicative complement in Spanish

Concept

Although the function of the predicate object is similar to that of the attribute, it does not always receive the same characterization. The denomination «predicate object» is not synonymous with predicate, since the function "predicate" corresponds to the verb or verbal phrase, while the predicate is never a verb or verbal phrase, but is part of it.

For example, if we say: «The child is happy», happy is how we obviously know an attribute; if we say, on the contrary: «The child walks happily», happily is a circumstantial modal complement. However, if we say: "The child walks happy" what is happy? In this sentence we are meaning two things that we know.

In «the boy walks happily» the c. predicative (alegre) determines both the predicative verb (walks) and the noun (boy), being an attribute with ellipsis of the linking verb of the subject (the child "is / is / seems happy" and circumstantial complement at the same time of the verb (walks in a "happy" way or "alegremente").

On the other hand, the predicative object can also be an attribute of the direct object ("The players wore dirty (C. P^vo.) shirts (O. D.)", in which case it is more difficult to interpret within the function of predicative complement that of circumstantial complement of manner and it seems more like a mere attribute with an elliptic linking verb. Thus, a difference is established between complement subjective predicate in the first case (determines a noun that is in the subject) and the objective predicate object in the second (determines the direct object).

Characterization of the predicative object

The predicative complement could be characterized according to the following points:

The predicative complement is a syntactic function performed by an element that is part of the verb phrase:

• The water flows "clear" through the river.

The predicative complement should not be confused with the adjective phrase as a function of adjacent nominal, which is not part of the verb phrase, but of the nominal phrase:

• The water Clear It doesn't flow through the river.

Subjective predicate

Agrees in gender and number with the nucleus of the subject:

• Alicia's back. beautiful.
• Nacho down heated
• Juan returned. sad

Objective predicate

It is a bivalent modifier because it modifies both the direct object in the predicate and the head of the predicate itself. Agrees in gender and number with the head of the direct object

• Buyed expensive the furniture.
• Andres brought inflated the ball.

Note that the predicate is outside the direct object: «They bought the furniture cheap», «Andrés brought the ball inflated». It's different than if you said, "They bought the furniture cheap," where cheap is just an adjective.

Certain sentences can show ambiguity when analyzed as a verb plus a predicative object or verbal periphrasis with a terminative aspect: «I have three paintings finished» is equivalent to both «I have three paintings ready» and «I have finished three paintings».

Other possible concordances of the predicate object

There are seldom-used expressions in which (if the context allows), there would be a predicative complement agreed with functions other than those of the subject and direct object:

• With the indirect add-on: "They extracted the tooth asleep." (Pvo agreed with C.I. "Le").
• With the regime supplement: "Do you remember Enrique drunk?" (Pvo agreed with the C. Rég. "of Henry")
• With a nominal group (almost always formed by verbaal or representative nouns). Like tired is a preaching complement to "Enrique came tired", it is also in: "The arrival of Enrique tired"but now within the nominal group. Other examples of the same type are: "The return of the exploiters wounded and frightened"or "A portrait of the Marquis on horseback". »

Units that perform the predicate complement function

The predicative complement can have the structure of:

Adjectival phrase

It is the preferred category, although not all adjectives can perform this function ("she did not speak loudly or clearly on the matter"). There is a greater predisposition in adjectives that can also appear as an attribute in copulative sentences.

• That gentleman is quiet. That gentleman drives quiet.
• That gentleman is altered. ♪ That gentleman drives altered.

The nucleus of the adjectival phrase can be a participle, referring to the direct object or the subject:

• I found your father recosted on the couch. (Pvo agreed with the subject)
• The boy was wearing ironing clothing. (Pvo agreed with object or direct complement)

Noun phrase

It may or may not be preceded by a preposition (depending on the prepositional or nominal phrase). The noun phrase and the prepositional are more reluctant to function as a predicative object and are subject to more restrictions. It is carried by verbs that mean "to name" or "choose" and "reputed to be" or "consider" can be a noun and can be preceded by como or de: "They elected Pedro president"; "They elected Pedro as president; "They elected Pedro as president; & # 34;He considered Pedro his best friend & # 34;; "They named Pedro mayor; "They call Pedro "El espanto de Triana"".

Prepositional phrase

The most common prepositions to introduce a predicative object are "de" and the adverb "as" with prepositive value:

"He works as a sweeper" / "He works as a sweeper"; "He painted her with glasses" (="gafuda", agreed with the object or direct object "la"); "Leave us alone" (id., with the C. D. "nos").

Infinitive predicative object

The New Grammar of the Spanish Language considers "dependent verb group that does not constitute a subordinate clause" to the infinitive predicative complements dependent on verbs of perception ("see, hear") and causation ("do, leave"): "They saw Guadalupe cry". "I saw him hear mass". "He resigned" Other grammatical theories consider that perception verbs such as "see" they select a reduced clause based on direct object, that is, the CD of the sentence would be another unit of non-verbal predication and legitimized by the preposition since the non-verbal form does not allow the legitimation of the nominative.

Gerund subordinate clause

Refers to the direct object or the subject. The gerund informs about a secondary action simultaneous to that of the main action and constitutes a secondary predication of the subject or of the direct object.

The construction of the gerund is subject to a grammatical restriction of an aspectual nature, which is that both the gerund and the verb of the main clause must admit, in principle, the durative periphrasis estar + gerundio:

• Mary came in. whistle. Mary I was whistled.
• Mary acted having a costume. Mary I was having a costume.

Absolute clause of past participle headed by "with"

In this structure other categories can appear instead of the participle, for example, the gerund.

• I saw her. with blue dyed hair.
• I found Pedro. with the t-shirt clashing.

Coupling sentences and the predicate

The predicative complement also appears with semicopulative verbs that form mixed predicates in semipredicative sentences: «Peter became fool». "Pedro was sad all day.

Almost always used to be an adjective.