Spanish Verb Complements: Direct Object & Prepositional

Verb Complements in Spanish

The verb, as the core of the predicate, is often accompanied by word groups that complete, specify, or restrict its meaning. These groups are known as verb complements and form part of the predicate.

Some verbs, by their meaning, require one or more complements. Example:

Yo juego al fútbol con la pelota. (I play soccer with the ball.) Here, the verb jugar (to play) often requires complements specifying what is played and potentially with what or with whom.

Other verbs do not require complements but can optionally take them. Example:

La mochila de tu hermano vale. (Your brother's backpack is valuable.)
Yo tengo libros a menudo. (I often have books.)
In these cases, valer and tener can stand alone or take optional complements.

Verb complements include the direct object, prepositional complement, indirect object, agent complement, and circumstantial complement. Additionally, the attribute and the predicative complement modify both the verb and a noun.

Direct Object (DO)

The direct object (DO) is the complement that receives the direct action of the verb. Example: Todos queremos una vida buena. (We all want a good life.)

The following can function as a direct object:

• Noun phrase without a preposition.
• Noun phrase with the preposition 'a' (typically for people or personified entities).
• Unstressed personal pronoun (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las, se).

Recognition of the Direct Object

The direct object is recognized by the following properties:

• It can be replaced by the unstressed personal pronouns lo, la, los, or las.
• It becomes the subject when the sentence is converted to the passive voice (using ser + participle).
• It does not agree in number or person with the verb; changing the verb's number does not change the direct object.

Prepositional Complement (C. Prep.)

The prepositional complement (C. Prep.), also known as the complemento de régimen verbal or supplement, is a complement introduced by a specific preposition required by the verb's meaning.

The function of the prepositional complement is performed by a prepositional phrase (a preposition followed by a noun phrase).

Recognition of the Prepositional Complement

The prepositional complement can be identified by these features:

• It can often be replaced by the required preposition followed by a tonic pronoun (mí, ti, él, ella, ello, nosotros/as, vosotros/as, ellos/as) or a demonstrative pronoun (eso, esto, aquello).
• However, it cannot be replaced by an unstressed personal pronoun (lo, la, le, etc.) or an adverb.
• Removing the prepositional complement often changes the verb's meaning significantly or results in an ungrammatical sentence.
• It often answers a question formed by Preposition + qué or Preposition + quién asked to the verb.