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English Grammar Drills

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178 Verb Phrases<br />

Many verbs that can take objects and object complements (both noun phrase and adjective<br />

complements) will also allow an alternate form with to be in front of the object complement. For<br />

example, in addition to the following object complements:<br />

Obj<br />

NP Comp<br />

I always imagined him a wealthy man.<br />

Adj<br />

Obj Comp<br />

I always imagined him taller.<br />

we have an alternative form with to be:<br />

Obj<br />

NP Comp<br />

I always imagined him to be a wealthy man.<br />

Obj<br />

Adj<br />

Comp<br />

I always imagined him to be taller.<br />

The forms with and without to be mean exactly the same thing. In fact, often native speakers<br />

would prefer to use the version with to be. While not every object complement can be used with<br />

the to be paraphrase, most can.<br />

Exercise 11.6<br />

Underline and label the objects and type of object complements (NP Comp or Adj Comp) in the<br />

following sentences, then insert to be between the object and the object complement.<br />

Obj<br />

NP Comp<br />

The board chose her the next CEO of the company.<br />

The board chose her to be the next CEO of the company.<br />

1. We always found them kind and considerate.<br />

2. I believed myself ready.<br />

3. The jury must presume the defendant innocent.<br />

4. I consider you a fair person.<br />

5. The treasurer showed himself a wizard of financial control.<br />

6. We just assumed the budget a done deal.<br />

7. It is a mistake to think him a fool.

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