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It depends on the sentence structure, and there is no certain formula.

they thought it their duty to keep eric in hiding.

Translated as: They think it's their responsibility to hide Eric.

Sentence Component Analysis:

Subject: they (they, personal pronouns as the subject of the sentence) Predicate: thought (think, think, think in the past tense) Object:

it (it as a preceding form object, referring to the infinitive phrase that follows) object complement: their duty, work, noun as object complement. to keep is infinitive.

This sentence is made up of "subject + predicate verb + formal object + object complement + real object" and the specific structure is as follows:

The subject is they

The predicate verb thought

Formal object it

The object complement their duty

Real object to keep eric hiding

The tense of the whole sentence is in the past tense and should be followed by it

Meaning they think it's their duty to keep Eric hidden

They are the subject, thought is the predicate, it is the formal object, their duty is the object complement, and the infinitive to keep eric in hiding is the real object of the sentence, which is placed behind to balance the sentence structure. it＝to keep eric in hiding

They main thought predicate it form object their duty object to keep eric in hiding verb infinitive as the real object.

To keep transitive verb eric object in hiding.

It's a simple sentence.

they subject.

thought predicate.

It is the formal object.

their duty object complement.

to keep eric in hiding the verb infinitive phrase as a true object.