The Participle as the Part of a Complex Object or a Complex Subject

Similar to the Infinitive Participle I may form part of a Complex Object or Subject when combined with a noun (pronoun) to which it stands in predicate relation.

Compare:

• I saw him run along the street. (Infinitive Complex Object) – He was seen run along the street. (Infinitive Complex Subject)
• I saw him running along the street. (Participle Complex Object) – He was seen running along the street. (Participle Complex Subject)

Such complexes occur after verbs denoting physical perceptions – 'to see', 'to hear', 'to feel', 'to watch', 'to find', 'to catch'.

Complex Object Exercises

English grammar exercises and activities for teaching Complex object to English language learners. Some exercises include answer keys.

Exercise 1 

Make up as many sentences as you can using the words and word-groups from each column of the substitution table. Pay attention that after verbs 'to see, to hear, to feel, to let, to make, etc...' the infinitive has no particle 'to' .

1) with the verb 'to see'

We He Everybody

see(s) saw

them a bricklayer my friend a boy the landlady

move to a summer cottage. lay a brick house. enter a two-storey house. draw a skyscraper. speak to her lodger. pull down a house.

Infinitive Complex Object

Complex Object 

Subject + Predicate + Complex Object (Noun/Pronoun + Infinitive)

The combination of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and an infinitive used after the predicate forms a complex object. The relation between the noun (pronoun) and the infinitive is that of subject and predicate.

Key examples:

• I saw the boy raise his hand. 
• I heard him call my name. 
• I want you to know that it doesn't matter.