Complex Object

Lead-in – Answer the questions

1. When was the last time someone asked you to do something?

2. Do your parents or friends ever make you do things?

3. Have you ever seen someone do something strange in public?

4. What do you expect your friends to do when you need help?

Now look at more examples. What do these sentences have in common?

• My boss asked me to stay late.

• I saw him leave the office.

• She made me repeat the task.

• They heard me talking to my friend.

This structure is called the Complex Object.

Explanation – What is a Complex Object?

A Complex Object is a structure where we have:

Subject + Verb + Object + Verb (infinitive or participle)

Example:

• I want you to help me.

• She saw him leave the room.

The second action belongs to the object.

Main Types of Complex Object

1. Want / Expect / Ask / Tell / Would like

Structure:

verb + object + to-infinitive

Examples:

• I want you to call me.

• She expects him to arrive early.

• They asked us to wait.

• The teacher told the students to open their books.

• I would like you to stay.

Common verbs:

want
expect
would like
ask
tell
invite
advise
allow
encourage
order
persuade

Example sentences:

• She wants him to study harder.

• We expect them to finish soon.

• I asked him to help me.

2. Make / Let / Have

These verbs use bare infinitive (without “to”).

Structure:

make/let/have + object + verb

Examples:

• She made me cry.

• My parents let me go out.

• The teacher had us write a test.

Important:

MAKE + bare infinitive

• The movie made me laugh.

LET + bare infinitive

• My mom let me stay up late.

HAVE + bare infinitive

• I had the mechanic check the car.

3. Meaning of HAVE somebody do something

Meaning: arrange, instruct, ask or cause someone to do something.

Pattern:

Subject + have + person + verb (base form)

Example:

• The teacher had us memorize the words. 

More examples with HAVE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING:

Giving someone a task (very common at work)

• The manager had the team prepare a presentation.

• My boss had me finish the report before noon.

• The teacher had the students rewrite their essays.

• The director had the staff attend a meeting.

• The coach had the players practice longer.

Arranging for a professional service

Very common in everyday English.

• I had the mechanic check my car.

• She had a designer decorate her apartment.

• We had a technician install the software.

• They had a photographer take pictures at the event.

• I had the doctor look at my knee.

Causing something to happen (less direct control)

• The teacher had us work in groups.

• The speaker had the audience laughing.

• The situation had everyone feeling nervous.

• The film had the audience crying.

Note: sometimes -ing appears if we emphasize the resulting state.

 Everyday examples

• I had my colleague check my email before I sent it.

• My boss had me update the spreadsheet.

• I had my brother help me move.

• We had the IT specialist fix the system.

• She had her assistant schedule the meeting.

4. Verbs of perception

see
hear
watch
notice
feel
observe

Two forms are possible:

A) Bare infinitive – finished action

Example:

• I saw her enter the room.

• We heard him close the door.

The whole action from beginning to end.

B) -ing form – action in progress

Example:

• I saw her entering the room.

• We heard him closing the door.

The action was in progress.

Compare:

• I saw her enter the room.
  (complete action)

• I saw her entering the room.
  (I saw the process)

Practice

Exercise 1 — Open the brackets (Complex Object)

Put the verb in the correct form.

1. I want you (help) me with this task.

2. She expects him (arrive) soon.

3. They asked us (wait) outside.

4. My parents let me (stay) up late yesterday.

5. The teacher made the students (rewrite) the test.

6. I heard her (sing) in the kitchen.

7. We saw him (cross) the street.

8. I would like you (join) us.

9. They told him (finish) the report.

10. She noticed the child (cry).

11. I saw them (play) football.

12. The boss had the secretary (send) the email.

13. We expect them (win) the competition.

14. I heard someone (knock) on the door.

15. She made me (apologize).

16. I watched the children (build) a sandcastle.

17. He asked me (call) him later.

18. They allowed us (enter) the building.

19. I felt the ground (shake).

20. She persuaded him (change) his mind.

Exercise 2 — Finished action vs Process

Choose the correct form. Comment if both forms are possible.

1. I saw her come / coming into the room.

2. We heard him close / closing the door.

3. I noticed her take / taking my book.

4. They watched the children play / playing in the yard.

5. I saw him leave / leaving the building.

6. She heard someone call / calling her name.

7. I watched the dog run / running across the field.

8. We noticed them enter / entering the house.

9. I saw him fall / falling off the bike.

10. They heard the baby cry / crying at night.

Exercise 3 – Correct the mistakes

1. The teacher made us to write a test.

2. I want that you help me.

3. She saw him to leave the room.

4. They let us to go home early.

5. I heard her to sing in the kitchen.

6. The manager had us to prepare the report.

7. We expect him arrives on time.

8. My parents allowed me go to the party.

9. I saw them playing the game yesterday.

10. She told me that I finish the task.

11. The film made me to cry.

12. I would like you come earlier.

13. We watched the children to play in the yard.

14. The boss had the assistant to send the email.

15. I noticed him to enter the building.

16. She expects him finishing the project soon.

17. They made me to repeat the answer.

18. I heard someone to knock at the door.

19. The teacher let us to use dictionaries.

20. I want that she comes with us.

Translation Exercise 

Translate using Complex Object.

1. Я хочу, щоб ти допоміг мені.

2. Вона очікує, що він скоро прийде.

3. Вчитель попросив нас почекати.

4. Мама дозволила мені піти гуляти.

5. Він змусив мене переписати звіт.

6. Я чув, як вона співала.

7. Ми бачили, як він перейшов дорогу.

8. Я хотів би, щоб ти приєднався до нас.

9. Вони сказали йому закінчити роботу.

10. Я помітив, що вона плаче.

11. Ми бачили, як діти гралися у дворі.

12. Я чув, як хтось постукав у двері.

13. Вона змусила мене вибачитися.

14. Я бачив, як він впав з велосипеда.

15. Ми чули, як вони говорили.

16. Я відчув, як будинок затремтів.

17. Вона попросила мене подзвонити їй.

18. Вони дозволили нам зайти.

19. Я бачив, як він відкрив двері.

20. Ми спостерігали, як вони танцювали.

Speaking Practice

1. What do you expect your colleagues to do when they work in a team?

2. What would you like your manager or supervisor to improve at work?

3. What things does your job sometimes make you do that you don’t enjoy?

4. What do companies often make employees do that can be stressful?

5. What do you want governments to do to improve people’s lives?

6. Have you ever seen a colleague do something very professional or impressive?

7. Have you ever heard someone say something inappropriate at work?

8. What do you expect technology to make people do in the next 10 years?

9. What habits would you like your partner or family members to change?

10. What should parents let teenagers do to become more independent?