The direct object is often called the object complement, or merely the object of the verb.
- Alfred has broken his arm.
- Morse invented the electric telegraph.
- Black foxes command a high price.
- You have accomplished a task of great difficulty.
- Have you lost the dog which your uncle gave you?
- He asked me the news. [Two direct objects ([§ 103]).]
Most of these objects are modified,—arm by the possessive his; telegraph by the and electric; price by a and high; task by the adjective phrase of great difficulty; dog by the and by the adjective clause which your uncle gave you.
486. A noun clause may be used as the direct object of a verb ([§ 386]).
- You promised that my coat should be ready to-day.
- The mayor ordered that the street should be closed for three hours.
- I begged that my passport might be returned to me.
For further examples, see [§§ 407], [432], [439], [441].
2. THE PREDICATE OBJECTIVE
487. Verbs of choosing, calling, naming, making, and thinking may take two objects referring to the same person or thing.
The first of these is the direct object, and the second, which completes the sense of the predicate, is called a predicate objective ([§ 104]).
The predicate objective is often called the complementary object or the objective attribute.