Complex verb complements

Level 6

Certain Swedish verbs can take a complex complement consisting of a noun phrase (the object) and a second phrase (a predicate) that describes the object's state or a result of the action.

How It Works

Object-predicative constructions are common in Swedish. “Small clause” is one way of analyzing some of these combinations; the exact theoretical grouping varies. They are predicative constructions that function as the complement of a main verb but lack an overt, finite verb of their own.

The structure is typically: Verb + Noun Phrase (Object) + Predicate Phrase.

Several types of verbs can take small clause complements:

1. Verbs of Causation/Result: These verbs describe an action that causes the object to enter a new state. The predicate describes this resulting state.

  • göra (to make): Hans ord gjorde mig arg. (His words made me angry.)
  • måla (to paint): Vi målade väggarna ljusblåa. (We painted the walls light blue.)
  • färga (to dye): Hon färgade håret rött. (She dyed her hair red.)

This is a classic example of a resultative construction.

2. Verbs of Consideration/Judgment: These verbs express an opinion or judgment about the object.

  • anse (to consider): Experterna anser lagen otillräcklig. (The experts consider the law insufficient.)
  • finna (to find): Jag fann hans förklaring konstig. (I found his explanation strange.)
  • kalla (to call): De kallar honom ett geni. (They call him a genius.)
  • förklara (to declare): Domstolen förklarade honom oskyldig. (The court declared him innocent.)

Some verbs, such as anse, also allow an object-plus-infinitive construction. Do not insert vara after every verb in the list: Jag anser honom (vara) kompetent.

3. Verbs of Perception: Related perception constructions use an object plus infinitive. Participial descriptions also occur, but are not interchangeable with every infinitive construction.

  • Jag såg tjuven springa från huset. (I saw the thief running from the house.) - with a bare infinitive.
  • Jag hörde mitt namn ropas. (I heard my name being called.) - with an s-passive infinitive.

4. Verbs of Desire/Wanting: Verbs like vilja ha express a desire for the object to be in a certain state.

  • Jag vill ha kaffet svart. (I want the coffee black.)
  • Chefen vill ha rapporten skriven till på fredag. (The boss wants the report written by Friday.)

In these cases, the predicate is often a past participle functioning as an adjective. An inflecting adjective or past participle normally agrees with the object in gender and number, following the rules of adjective agreement.

Choose the Verb’s Construction
Musiken gjorde mig glad and Musiken gjorde att jag blev glad are both grammatical. The longer clause is useful when the event or its development needs separate expression. Anse någon kompetent and anse någon vara kompetent are alternatives, but kalla någon ett geni does not license adding vara in the same way. Learn which complement each verb takes.

Examples (5)

  1. Nyheten gjorde henne ledsen.

    The news made her sad.

    Word by Word: The news made her sad.

    The verb 'göra' (to make) causes the object 'henne' (her) to enter the state described by the adjective 'ledsen' (sad).

  2. Vi anser förslaget vara en bra idé.

    We consider the proposal to be a good idea.

    Word by Word: We consider the proposal to be a good idea.

    This is a related object-plus-infinitive construction: förslaget vara en bra idé. Do not simply remove vara before this bare noun phrase. Compare adjectival Vi anser förslaget bra or Vi anser att förslaget är en bra idé.

  3. Han målade staketet vitt.

    He painted the fence white.

    Word by Word: He painted the fence-the white.

    This is a resultative construction. The action 'målade' (painted) results in the object 'staketet' (the fence) having the quality 'vitt' (white). Note the adjective agreement: 'vitt' is used because 'staket' is an ett-word.

  4. Jag vill ha rapporten färdig imorgon.

    I want the report finished tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I want have the report finished tomorrow.

    Here, the predicate is the adjective 'färdig' (finished, ready), which describes the desired state of the object 'rapporten' (the report).

  5. De döpte sin son till Karl.

    They named their son Karl.

    Word by Word: They named their son to Karl.

    In the naming construction, döpa introduces the name with till: döpa sin son till Karl. The preposition is part of this verb’s pattern, not a generally optional marker after all naming verbs.

Common Mistakes

  • Incorrect adjective agreement with the object.

    Jag målade väggarna vit.
    Jag målade väggarna vita.

    The predicate adjective must agree with the object of the sentence. Since 'väggarna' (the walls) is plural, the adjective must be in its plural form, 'vita'.

  • Using this structure with verbs that don't support it.

    Jag hoppas dig glad.
    Jag hoppas att du är glad.

    For this meaning, hoppas does not take dig glad. Use Jag hoppas att du är glad or Jag hoppas du är glad. Hoppas can also take an infinitive when appropriate, as in Jag hoppas bli klar.

How It Connects

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Complex verb complementsLevel 6

Learn This First

Small clause complements (complex verb complements) involve a main verb followed by an object and a secondary predicate (usually an infinitive or adjective). To learn this, you need to be comfortable with object pronouns, basic verb forms (infinitives), and how objects are positioned in a standard Swedish sentence.

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Patterns that build on this one.