VII.

THE OBJECTS: DIRECT, INDIRECT

AND PREPOSITIONAL
0.1' The objects are secondary parts of the sentence compreting the meaning of a verb or - much less frequently - of an adjective or noun. They are norinui parts of the sentence and are therefore by much the same means as the
subjects:
th-at are
1,,

,substitute preceded by a preposition - e.g., of relation - apart from the indirect objects (and of course discrete from both adverbial modifiers and attributes). $icea dintii gcolarila a fost insdgi Smirandila popii, o zgitie de copild agera la minle gi aga de silitoare, de intrecea mai pe togibdieyii Si din carte dar gi din nebunll. (l.Creanga) Other examples of "complemente de relafie": Lat in spate; strins la pungri; scump la vorbd; scump la vedere. Naturalfy, the Romanian complemente circuntslanliale correspond to the English rbial modifiers.

"*p."tt"d

,i
I I
I
1

,1

j
I

I
I
I

l
I
I
I

Chase) I have always made yo_u my companions andfriends, andarowed you perfect freedom to do and sly wharever you riked, ro iong as you riked what courd approve of. (Lady Britomart in G.B.Shaw,s Major naimril gerunds, phiases and clauses have been used in these eaning of a verb, either predicative or not. Many of these ningful predicate if they are not followed py an object (e.g.,

when I travelled I took a particurar detight in hearing the songs and comefromfather to son and are mo_st in uogu" orirg the common fabres peopre of the countries through which I passed. (Joseph Addiron, Vh" noilod ,f ch;r;

1.0. The direct object is the secondary part of the sentence indicating the person, thing or abstract notion that directly receives, suffers or attracts the action of a transitive verb (simple or complex) as well as of a transitive verbal phrase. The direct object always stands in the accusative case. It answers the questions whom? or what? Here are a few examples from Mark Twain's Encounter with an
Interviewer:

Nouns, senten ver

r:-

-{!

i.
lil
ii

il

t'
I
1.,

adjectives as well as nouns: He's not worth wrangring about. (c.B.Shaw, John Buil,s other Island) We are all confident of his success. We are dreadfully sorry for her. My surprise at seeing her was great. There is hardly any certainty oy'about his qrrival. There's no use specurating about it. (Arbert Martz, peace on Ectrth\ 0.3. In English we distinguish the following kinds of objects:
a) Direct objects (in the accusative or object case) generaily corresponding to the. Romanian compremente direcre - with the exceptr:on of ihe comprex ones which are usually rendered into Romanian by phrases or other means. I saw him in the street.

0.2. There are also objects which may or must round off the meaning of

"How did you happen to meet Aqron Burr?" "At his burial." I don't understand it ar all. Some said he was dead, some said he wesn'|. What did you think? You buried him, without knowing whether he was dead or not? I never heard anything like this. words Aaron Burr, it, what, him, anylhing, the clauses he was dead, he The wasn'|, whether he was dead or nol are placed in the accusative case, they answer the question whom? or what? they follow close upon transitive verbs - they are the direct object ofthese verbs.
1.1. Unlike certain authors or grammar and dictionaries, we do not share the view that transitive verbs may be used "absolutely", that is without being followed

,]

pronoun.

b) Indirect objectslin the dative or object case), are in our opinion restricted to utilisation after transitive verbs denoting the conveyence/transm'ission especially of some object or abstract notion, and usually expressed by a (+ human)
She wrote me aletler and asked meto send some money to her.

by a direct object. We adopt a strictly functional point of view, conceiving as transitive those verbs whose action is immediately directed towards a direct object in the accusative and intransitive those which have no such object, Intransitive verbs form the predicate by themselves, which transitive ones do not do. For instance, the verb to wrile is transitive in He is writing q letter and intransitive in He writes - with the meaning of He is a wriler I an author. (Therefore not a transitive verb used absolutely or elliptically).
1.2. Further on, this is closely bound up with the interdependence between words and their contexts to the effect that a transitive verb cannot exist as such without a direct object - its very raison d' tre.
1.3. As is the case of any two languages compared, the situation of the direct object is not identical in Romanian and English, because not all Romanian transitive verbs are transitive in English as well. L-a visat asld-noapte is rendered in English by She dreamed of him last night. Ai ascultat concertul? - Did you listen

noun or

c) Prepositional objects in the accusative including items that correspond to the Romanian complements of agent, of reration, of-means, the sociative and instrumental ones, as welr as any other cornprement formed of a noun or noun
130

l3l

,qi

to the concerl? On the other hand, Answer (him) his questions has an intransitivg equivalent in Romanian Rdspunde-i la intrebdri or Rdspunde Ia ce te intreab,i, And so has the sentence I enjoyed her retter - M-am buiurat de scrisoarea ei. \ case in point, and very frequent too, is the pattern with the verb to /i/re which is rendered in Romanian by constructions with the dative case; LI/e alt liked it very much - Ne-a pldcut foarte mult la.toli. (cf . the final part of the chapter on the
subject).

How will you persuade Cornelius Doyle? It saves thinking. It saves working.

2.2.8y

a pronoun;

Mr.Doyle uses it
Shall I fetch ftiz, I'lltell youwhat.

as a paper-weight'

Sir?

prepositional obj ect). As we have seen, however, unlike Romanian, English grammar records also direct objects such as

In both Romanian and English there are baffling expressions, which seem to infringe the rule of constructing the direct object in the accusative case: Whose work do you like best? (apparent genitive) $i mdnincd la prdcint"

He didn't do anYthing.

fata

lappu.ent

2.3. By a substantivized adjective or past participle: He greatly helped the blind and the wounded'

2.4.8y

a numeral:

ferreting

Parlour?); I

towel (and interpreted by some grammarians as a predicatr've adjunct). A puzzling situation, both in Romanian and English, arisei out of the ellipsis of prepositions in temporal phrases:

3mporary English, of replacing ceftain intransitive verbs (for instance to dance, to cry) by a tiansitive construction (such as to have a dance, lo have a watk) containing an almost meaningless transitive verb followed by a direct object - a noun which iarries the actual semantic force or value of the idiom. \ Difficulties in identifoing the direct object may occur in such sentences as: He wiped the towel all over his face - shifted from: He wiped att his face with the

out th A tenden

I offered himfour, but he only took fwo.

(Th.Dr

bout (A

2.5.8y an infinitive or infinitivalphrase:

I should like lo exPlain. Don't you want to see your country again? You Irish men certainly do know how Io drink.

I'll show you how to do it.

2.6.8y
a gerundial Phrase: I like riding a bicYcle. Say when. Say half-and-half.

2.7.8y any part of sPeech:

They were only come now

to

stay a

different from wait for a (suirable, etc.) moment = Asteaptd clipa / o cliph potrivitd, etc. All these elements of contrast insistently point to the necessity for observation, reflection and anarysis in order to avoid mistakes in usage and
translation.

(Charlotte Brontd, Jane Eyre) I waited qn hour and a half and then I went away. The adverbial phrases afew weelcs, an hour and a half iould, at first sight, be mistaken for direct objects, but the question how tongi - which these p-hrases answer - will clear up the matter. Ll'ait a moment : asteaptd o clipd is entirely

few

weelcs

= for a few

weeks

* 2.8. By a group of words (including such constructions as the accusative infinitive etc. - cf. 3.2.5.): Try awhiskY and sodalnd she sang this song of the shirt (Thomas Hood, The song of the Shirt) I thought I'djust drop in and say how do you do? you won't be abli to adopt the l-didn't-know-anything-aboul-it
attilude. 2.9. By a subordinate object clause:
What will I do if he decides to go down, I don't know' I wish I could see him only once to know what I have against me.

(E.Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea)'

2.0. Since its nature is similar to that of the subject, the direct object can be expressed by similar grammatical elements. In fact the same will generally apply to the prepositional object as well. (Most examples are culled from John Bull's Other Island by George Bernard Shaw):
2.1. By a noun (common or verbal), by a proper name: We must close the public houses at allcosts. I don't see the ioke.
132

3.0. Like other parts of the sentence, direct objects can be classified in terms of semantic content / force / value and of composition / structure.

3.1. (A) classification

3,1.1. Significant

in

point

of

Semantic content

division into:

signifcant, impers onal, cognate'

I meaningful (the usual kind of direct objects)

Students play a vital role in the democratic youth movement. The members heard the minutes and approved them'

"

3.1.2. Impersonal / non-significant / meaningless / formal A formal direct object is generally expressed by the pronoun il. Suffice i/ to recall the Commonwealth Economic Conference

of

1958.

3.1.3, Cognate (Internal) - The cognate object accompanies verbs which are normally intransitive (to sleep, to dress, to live, to die, to laugh, to sntile) and therefore take no object. As a rule it is called cognate because the nouns which express it are related (cognate) to the verb in meaning and, generally, also in etymology: Into the street the Piper stepped

oqrri,

3.2.3.Compoundobjects-similarinstructureandfunctiorrtoco-ordinaled nouns refer to only one person' Vut dissimilar in that the two or several
(c.ombined)? Do you like my bedroom and working-room

- abstract notlon: vvr--' or obiect

tro*"ti*",ttutemyfriendandadviserforbeingsofrankwithme'
I resent your question and innuendo'

Note:Suchobjectsareratherinfrequentandexamplesdonotaboundinliterature. 3.2.4.Doubleobjecls-designatingthedirectobjectsconnectedwiththesame Jifferent' separate questions - whom? and what? transitive verb, yet answering as to ask, to answer, to iif' uruuffy foilow a limitJd number of verbs such
forgive' to envY. Ask nre no questtons' I envied (hinr) his comPetence'
Forgive (me) mY curiosiry' included in this list' we prefer to treat Note: Although the verb /o call issometimes
such examPles as

Smiling first a little smile. (Robeft Browning, The Pied Piper of

Hamelin)

I slept the sleep of the pure at heart. (Maugham, Smith) The ploughman homewards plods his weary way. (Thomas Gray,
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard) We notice that as often as not, the nouns forming the cognate object are modified by attributes (l dreamed afontastic/horriblel or a rnost pleasant dream; he died a heroic/noble/terrible/quiet death, etc.) and so the semantic value of the cognate objects turns into that of an intensifier. For'instance in: He then laughed his most horrible laugh (Oscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost) the word laugh plays rather the role of an adverbial modifier with an emphatic force - greater than in: l/e Iaughed most horuibly. Therefore the cognate object seems to be used as a stylistic device, even in everyday speech, by substituting a unique direct object of an intransitive verb for the more hackneyed adverbial modifiers.
3.2. (B) Classification in point of structure/composition: division into simple, coordinated, compound, double and complex. 3.2.1, Simple objects are expressed by a single word, possibly determined and modified by attributes or even by a whole attributive clause: Read il to me.

in terms of factitive verbs They called me lhe Pied Piper (Browning) taking a complex object (cf' 3'2'5'5')

3.2.S.Complexobjects.Theseareobjectiveconstructionswhichcompletethe transitive verbs; what charaterizes these meaning of a very iong 'ungt of two insepara6le (though heterogeneous'; .onrrruE ions is the-fact th'at the-V include proper name or pronoun in the - a nominal part - an object propel (a noun'
parts

This old person tore lrs paper (rupse ziarul)... and broke several
things with his cane.

accusativecase)indisso|ub|ylinkedwitharrotherpu't*hi"h."omp|etesit(usually noun or adverb): I n--irnit. form of the n"rb, but also an adjective' the relief come' l could As the sentence fell from 'ny fipt I could see the araiety go out of the face, and see |he drqwn ntuscles relax, and rest and peace steql over rhe features"'
I

I accepted the terms he offered and took his place. (Mark Twain, How I Edited an Agricultural Paper)
3.2.2. Coordinated objects are two or several nouns or noun-equivalents in the accusative (connected either by conjunctions or asyndentically) discharging an identical syntactical function in relation to a transitive verb or verbal phrase. These objects are homogeneous pafts of the sentence (therefore homogeneous direct objects): Wherefore, Bees, of England, forge

I t

I Edited an Agricultural PaPer) icativ suplimentar'

'Y

tngs PerfectlY 'cerlain' oi obiect' (Mark Twain' How

*ould b" a
Romanian elemenl

"predicative adjunct"

cf'

Many

a weapon,

chain

and scourge,

That these stingless drones may spoil The forced produce of your toil? Have ye leisure, comfort, calm, Shelter, food, love's gentle balnfl (Shelley, Song to the Men of England)

InallcasestheanswertosuchaquestionasWhatdidlhear?wouldrequire say, which could on the other hand be both parts of the compr".1il."a " man .and andie said"'" The separation of the two paraphrased by "l heard a man who spoke *o"iJ g:'"."t of the question - or at least would involve parts of the complex you to go qway "iiJ.i especially in such examples as "l hate a total change of meaning, -expresses /fte a contrary feeling) or "l wish you'd have you"
(obviously

"l

hate

t34

l?s

table cleared' or "Do you wish the case to be setlled here?" (these two sentences become meaningless if we split the object), "l'd like you to relrain from saying such things." certain sentences may be delusive when we have two objects answerinp different questions asin"They envy (me) my happiness" (whom do they envy?l Me: and what do they envy - My happiness), therefore a double object, although me does not always occur. on the other hand, in "She permitted rs to sit uy i1,i (what did she permit? - To sit by it; and - at least hypothetically - (To) whom did she permit it? - to us or us - therefore a direct and indiiect objectl. In fact we are far from enjoying a consensus of grammarians on this mafter (ma_ny preferring the notion of predicative adjinct (=element predicativ suplimentar) so these comments should be regarded as just one of tire several possible interpretations.

(with the exception of the verbs to have request, order, persuasion, determination 'lid ro which are followed by the accusative + short infinitive)' ^o*, Do you want il.t to go and support the strike? Hesentamessage...desiringhissontocometohimdirect|y.
Never knew her to do such things before "' Although I am so anxious to learn because he wished me lo,I'm afraid I don't like it. (Examples from Dicke:r s, Hard Times)
long infinitive, the exceptions being some accompanied by an accusative with the to hqve and to let: verbs of perception, the verbs lo make, at once ("') nte know (...) Let go I saw him you shoui-d make him slop shouting (...) The trustees would rather have that haPPen.

S,2,s.l.3,Tosummarize,mostverbstakirrgacomplexobjectcanbe

3.2.5.9. Complex objects are formed by means of various constructions, the most frequent of which are the accusative with the infinitive and the accusative with the participle - indefinite and past. They are taken as objects especially by certain categories of verbs, prominent among them being verbs aenoting . perception' mental or emotional activities, determination and coJrcion (cf. to this chapter, under 5.1. and 5.2.). "nn"*"!

is also very 3.2.5.2. The accusalive with lhe infinitive (or present) participle (among activities emotional or mental perception, common after verbs denoting
the last, esPeciallY desire):

I saw him running.

I can't stand a door banging. (Conrad, Typhoon) We don't want you coming here and spying on us' (John Galsworthy'

Roughly speaking there are two main situations: the second part,,of the comyllx obiect designates either an action (through an infinitive or indefinite pafticiple) folowing a verb which denotes perceptive, mental or emotional activities' or the result of an action - colour, shape, siate, quality, position (expressed through a noun, adjective, past participle or adverbj roilo*ing a verb
which denotes order, request, coercion, determination.

Strife\

3.2.5.1.

out of all

both its frequency and the great number of verbs which can take this type of complex object (in fact all categories of verbs ever accompanied by such an object - cf. 5.l. and 5.2.)

expressed, the accusolive with the infinitive is the most important on account

constructions through which the complex object may

be

of

with the short 3,2.5.2.1. Analysing the difference between l) the accusative as a complex used infiniWe and 2) thi acJusative with the indefinite participle the fact, states merely fffit ut"r veibs of perception, we notice that the former in its perceived / *fr"r"", the latter denotes the action viewed / followed / watched : lrn the house progress. The Romanian translations also differ: I saw him enter : vdzut L'am the house vdzlut cd a intrqt in casd; I watched him approaching

apropiindu-sedecasd/L-amobservalcumseapropiadecasd,(Cf.the with the help of the continuous / progressive aspect of various moods, expressed
indefi nite ParticiPle.)

(possibly because they are rather "conscious" than merery "sensorial"). We all noticed him to be rather out of sorts. He noted his crothes to be weil cut ... (Galsworthy, The Man

3'2'5.r.1. Verbs of feeling or perception (in Latin called verba sentiendi) are followed by the short infinitive after the accusstive: At that moment she felt him stop. Exceptions are the verbs of observation: to notice, to note, to observe

3.2.5.3. The accusative with the past participle is used with a resultative desire, meaning after verbs expressing causal or causative relations, coercion, get with to or have to verbs the follow order. ItTost frequently these constructions to of or meaning something to do the mening of making, asking, causing somebody
cause, to suffer, to see, to experience, to undergo I had a ne* pa'i, of shoes made. (to render Romanian sentences like

Property)

of

denoting understanding, consideration, belief desire, affection and any other mental or emotional activities, permission (with the exception of to let) as well as

3,2-5.1.2. The accusati-ve with the rong infinitive is taken as a complex object by most other categories of verbs: the above-mentioned verbs of perception, thtse

(charlotte should but knock at the door to have iI shut in my face' Bront6' Jane EYre) often have 3.2.5.4.The accusative wilh an adiective is a construction that may verbs as after resultative force, when placed after causative verbs as well

m-am |uns/coo7"tt,^, etc. ad |itteram makes no Sense in English). They had him brought before them at once' I have no desire to getmy head busted'

denoting mental activity and other verbs:

t36

137

Why not try to make it as effective as possible. I suppose you think it brave,then. (J.dalsworthy, Strtfe) They think us dur, they think us dead. Jones,
Wage_Slave)

aclvtowledge

lernesi

song of

the

admil
advise

is a great success) follow causative an verbs. After verbs denoting mental activ adjective) the attributive force derivins
a nominal predicate:

3.2.5.5. The accusative wirh a nolt)

allow
ask dssume

believe

boil

grear success -> I think ir a greatsuccess. 3.2.5.6. Two gerundiar constructions may arso express a comprex object:
is
ct

I think that

il

cquse choose

A) the genitive wilh the gerund I appreciate your coming over. B) the qccusative wirh the gerund, very often used coiloquiaily instead of the former.
I appreciate you coming over. 3,2.5.7. The accusative with an adverb: I ordered him qwav

command compel concelve

consider
declare
deny

accusative accusative accusative accusative accusative accusative accusative accusative accusative accusattve accusative accusative accusative accusative + noun, or accusative

+ + + + + + +

infinitive infinitive infinitive infinitive infinitive lonB infinitive long infinitive

long long long long long

which seems to have resulted from the construction of the accusative wlth the infinitive: I ordered him to go away.
Other examples may indicate a resultative meaning: She cried her eyes out. (Again interpretationr jiff.. - cf. introduction to 1.5.5.).

desire elect
excuse

+ adjective + long infinitive + noun + long infinitive + long infinitive + long infinitive + long infinitive, or + adjective + long infinitive,or * noun, or adjective, or + adverb accusative + long infinitive accusative + long infinitive
accusative

noun

expecl

feel

frd
force
get hate
have

4.1. By analysing the various kinds

provide the greatest amount of difference the direct object. A brief survey of the e> to the great frequency of simple and com;

genitive + Gerund, accusative + Gerund accusative + long infinitive accusative + short infinitive accusative + adjective accusative + long infinitive

accusative
participle accusative
Gerund

+ long infinitive, 61 *

past

long infinitive, or genitive +

4.2. As regards the position of the remark that since the direct obiect is a n /re of transitive verbs (which 'are essent may be said to live for arrd through their r the verb and is seldom separatid from (non-prepositional) ind irect object. Note: This does not apply to direct object clauses.
4.3. By changes from the active to the passive voice, direct objects of a1 kinds

accusative
participle

short infinitive,

or +

past

hear imagine induce

keep

htow
let like

beco Naturally, infinitive,

may

participle).

constructions (cf. .fr.pt*-"'. the Subject). turn into complex subjects (nominative + long

accusative + short infinitive, 6r + participle in -ing, s1 * past participle accusative + long infinitive accusative + long infinitive accusative + adjective, or + adverb accusative + lonB infinitive accusative + short infinitive accusative + long infinitive, 6r + participle in -ing, 61 past participle, genitive +

5.0. The considerations and exemprification regarding the maniford aspects compfex objects (3.2.5.) may be summarized graphiiaily ii tt ioiio*ing tabres:

Gerund

of

make

"

accusative + short infinitive (exception, infinitive), or + adiecti

138

t39