Question

What is the function of the complement shown in the parentheses in this sentence?
"We named our (Australian shepherd) Allie.

Answer 1

Hint: To approach this question, we need to know what role each of the words are assigned to in the sentence. Eventually, the single function that remains unassigned is the answer.

Complete answer:
The sentence given in the question also has these components, and we will start by naming them.
We; is the subject. It is that part of speech which is performing an action.
Named; is the verb. It is the action that the subject is performing.
Our; is the adjective. It is the word which describes the subject or the object. In this case it is describing the object. An adjective can be of various types. They are descriptive, quantitative, demonstrative, possessive, interrogative, distributive and even articles are adjectives. In this case, it is a possessive adjective as it is indicating whose Australian shepherd it is.
Allie; is the object complement. It can be a noun or an adjective which changes the form or state of the object. In this case it is a proper noun.
Therefore, the only part remaining is the object, i.e. the ‘Australian shepherd’. It is the part of speech on which the subject performs an action.

Thus, the Australian shepherd is the object in the sentence.

Note: In English grammar there are three kinds of Objects.
i) Direct object – e.g. I saw him.
ii) Indirect object – e.g. I gave him some water.
iii) Object of preposition – e.g. He sat with them.