Complex Object Exercises
English grammar exercises and activities for teaching Complex
object to English language learners. Some exercises include answer
keys.
Exercise 1
Make up as many
sentences as you can using the words and word-groups from each column of the
substitution table. Pay attention that after verbs 'to see, to hear, to
feel, to let, to make, etc...' the infinitive has no particle 'to' .
1) with the verb 'to see'
We He Everybody |
see(s) saw |
them a bricklayer my friend a boy the landlady |
move to a summer cottage. lay a brick house. enter a two-storey house. draw a skyscraper. speak to her lodger. pull down a house. |
2) with the verb 'to hear'
I We He They |
hear(s) heard |
my friend them a guest the hostess our teacher
|
ring the bell. praise my two-room flat. speak to the hostess. welcome her guests. tell his friend of the rest-home. read a play. |
3) with the verb 'to feel'
The patient I He |
feel(s) felt |
the nurse mother the older sister her his friend the feather-bed
|
smooth his pillow. tuck the blanket. dry his back with a bath towel. smooth his bedsheet. put a cushion. sink under his weight. |
4) with the verb 'to want'
I She Our teacher |
want(s) wanted |
you him our house us this work
|
to draw the blinds. to pull up the blinds. to spread the carpet on the floor. to face the park. to master English. to be done. |
5) with the verb 'to make'
I Mother |
make(s) made |
her son him us |
go to bed. turn off the light. water the flowers. mend the bookshelf. |
5) with the verb 'to let'
I She They |
let(s) let |
her son
|
screw in a new bulb. unscrew a fused bulb. light a candle. plug in the iron. leave for London. |
6) with the verb 'to expect'
I We Mother |
expect(s) expected |
you
|
to air the room. to receive the guests in the setting room. to wait in the adjoining room. to follow her advice; |
6) with the verb 'should like' / 'would like'
I |
should like |
you him George
|
to help me. to have a good time. to arrange everything by the time I come back. |
Exercise 2
Change the complex sentences into simple ones using
complex objects.
Model:
A: I think that the flat is very cosy.
B: I think the flat to be very cosy.
1.
I think that a
shower is a most important convenience.
2.
I think that our
water supply is not good.
3.
I saw that he
pressed the bell.
4.
I did not expect
that they would come in time.
5.
I watched how he
spoke on the phone.
6.
He heard that the
telephone rang.
7.
I saw that he took
out his latch-key.
8.
She believed that
he had stolen her money to pay his debts.
9.
He wants that this
work will be done.
10.
He wants that this
work will have been done by Friday.
Answer key:
1.
I think a shower
to be a most important convenience.
2.
I think our water
supply not to be good.
3.
I saw him press
the bell.
4.
I did not expect
them to come in time.
5.
I watched him
speak on the phone.
6.
He heard the
telephone ring.
7.
I saw him take out
his latch-key.
8.
She believed him
to have stolen her money to pay his debts.
9.
He wants this work
to be done.
10.
He wants this work
to have been done by Friday.
Exercise 3
Combine the
following sentences using either Complex Object or that-clause (pay attention
to Sequence of tenses).
1.
They haven’t seen.
The railway accident occurred near the station.
2.
I heard. They
argued about different tastes in art.
3.
I see. Your tastes
differ greatly.
4.
We heard. He made
a report on his new discovery.
Answer key:
1.
They haven’t seen
the railway accident have occurred near the station. - They haven’t seen
that the railway accident had occurred near the station.
2.
I heard them argue
about different tastes in art. / I heard them arguing about different tastes in
art. - I heard that they argued about different tastes in art.
3.
I see your tastes
differ greatly. - I see that your tastes differ greatly.
4.
We heard him make
a report on his new discovery. / We heard him making a report on his new
discovery. - We heard that he made a report on his new discovery.
Exercise 4
Practise in using Comlpex Object after 'make'. Change
the sentences according to the model.
Model:
A: His mother advised him to write a story.
B: His mother made him write a story.
1.
His father advised
him to quit smoking.
2.
His brother
advised him to get a new job.
3.
Mary’s teacher
advised her to take part in the writing contest.
4.
Her parents
advised her to move to Chicago.
Exercise 5
Practise sentences with Complex Object after the verb
'want'. Say that you (he, she, they, etc.) want somebody to do the following.
Model:
A: I want to be introduced to Mr Laurie. (the host)
B: I want the host to introduce me to Mr Laurie.
1.
The patient wanted
to be examined. (the doctor)
2.
The man wants to
be treated for rheumatism. (Doctor House)
3.
He wished to be
cured of his illness. (the specialist)
4.
Usually English
people don’t like to be asked personal questions. (strangers)
Answer key: 1. The patient wanted the doctor to examine him.
2. The man wants Doctor House to treat him for rheumatism. 3. He wished the
specialist to cure him of his illness. 4. Usually English people don’t like
strangers to ask personal questions.
Exercise 6
Combine sentences using Complex Subject.
Model:
A: I heard him. He answered the door-bell.
B: I heard him answer the door-bell.
1.
He saw her. She
burst into tears.
2.
I haven’t heard
him. He called my name.
3.
The nurse watched
the boy. The boy cried.
4.
I felt his hand.
His hand shook.
5.
We saw a man. The
man pulled the door open.
Answer: 1. He saw her burst into tears. 2. I haven’t heard
him call my name. 3. The nurse watched the boy cry. 4. I felt his hand shake.
5. We saw the man pull the door open.
Exercise 7
Practise in using Complex Object.
a. Say what you (he, she) would (should) like me (him, her…) to do.
Model:
to fix an appointment for someone for Monday
A: I would like you to fix an appointment for me for Monday.
1.
to have a good
time at the party;
2.
to arrange
everything by the time I come back;
3.
to show them the
historical monuments of the city;
4.
to tell me the
news in brief.
b. Ask a friend if he wants you to do the following. Work in pair.
Model:
to take care of the tickets
A: Do you want me to take care of the tickets?
B: Yes, do please.
1.
to come and help
you with the packing;
2.
to brief the
pressman about the State Visit;
3.
to show you some
historical places of our city;
4.
to entertain the guests;
5.
to make a speech
in Italian.
c. Say that you want certain thing (to be) done.
Model:
to answer a telephone call
A: I want a telephone call to be answered
1.
to publish the
historical manus;
2.
to do the steak
well;
3.
to do the work
properly;
4.
to forget this incident;
5.
to tell the story
in brief.
d. Ask a friend if he has heard or seen the following. Work in pair.
Model:
the Chairman – to make an announcement
A: Did you hear the Chairman make an announcement?
B: Yes, I certainly did. (No, I am sorry, I didn’t.)
1.
they (to tell)
about the car accident;
2.
these flowers (to
grow) in your country;
3.
he (to do) the
role of Richard III;
4.
George (to take)
the papers out of his brief-case.
Exercise 8
Read the extract from the poem pointing out complex
objects. Learn the extract by heart.
The Wind
(by R. L.
Stevenson)
I saw you
toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky.
And all round I heard you pass
Like ladies’ skirts across the grass.
Oh, wind, a-blowing all day long,
Oh, wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did.
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all.
O wind, a-blowing all day long!
O wind, that sings so loud a song !