Clause Pattern: Subject – Verb – Direct Object – Object Predicative
(SVO_d P_o )

This pattern consists of a subject See the glossary definition , a complex transitive verb See the glossary definition , a direct object See the glossary definition and an object predicative See the glossary definition .

The object predicative gives information about the object and may be a noun phrase See the glossary definition , an adjective phrase See the glossary definition , or (rarely) a wh-clause See the glossary definition .

• Theysubject findcomplex transitive verb such explanationsdirect object excitingobject predicative. (Satterley 2020)

• Grains like rice, wheat and cornsubject makecomplex transitive verb civilisationdirect object possibleobject predicative. (Bohra and Varshney 2023)

• It is important to keepcomplex transitive verb the wound direct object clean, damp and covered object predicative to help it heal quicker. (Parker, Edwards, and Finlayson 2019)

• This is another adaptation to keepcomplex transitive verb themdirect object warmobject predicative. (Younger 2019)

• In a nutshell, musicsubject putscomplex transitive verb us direct object in a better mood,object predicative which makescomplex transitive verb us direct object better at studyingobject predicative – but it also distracts us, which makescomplex transitive verb us direct object worse at studyingobject predicative. (Byron 2019)     (info)There are three examples in this sentence.

• When we’re sleeping, our bodies and brains are still working to keepcomplex transitive verb usdirect object healthy and happyobject predicative. (Agostini 2019)

• Over 75% of participantssubject considercomplex transitive verb itdirect object good or very goodobject predicative. (Rosell-Aguilar 2018)

• We need to remember that Nauru wasn’t always like this. Wesubject helped makecomplex transitive verb itdirect object what it is todayobject predicative. (Kanngieser 2018)

Test your understanding of this Subject – Verb – Direct Object – Object Predicative
(SVO_d P_o ) pattern Go to the (SVO_d P_o) exercise page.