by representing the same person or thing. When thus used they may conveniently be called subjective predicate nouns and pronouns.

EXERCISE

163. Explain the use of the words in italics:

1. Do you desire to become a poet? 2. I have no desire to be he. 3. Did Henry Clay expect to be elected President? 4. He became tired of being a country physician. 5. Try to be a brave man.

Nouns and Pronouns used Absolutely

164. In the sentence "To become a scholar requires study," the noun scholar is the complement of the verbal to become, but it does not modify any preceding noun or pronoun. The verbal to become is said to be used without reference to a preceding noun or pronoun. (Why? 864.) may be seen that

It

Nouns and pronouns may be used merely as the complements of verbals. In such constructions nouns and pronouns are said to be used absolutely. (469, 2.)

Absolutely means "in a loosened sense."

EXERCISE

165. Explain the use of the words in italics:

1. To be called a Christian was at one time a reproach. 2. It requires courage to be a soldier. 3. The difficulties in the way of becoming a successful lawyer are not slight ones. 4. To seem to be a gentleman while being a boor — that is no easy task.

Direct Objects

166. In the sentence "Dogs bite strangers," the noun strangers modifies the verb bite by representing the persons receiving or directly affected by the act of biting, and it is also the complement of the verb. And in the sentence "We talk of educating our children," the noun children modifies the verbal educating in the same way, and is also the complement of educating. It may be seen that—

Nouns and pronouns may be the complements of verbs and verbals, and modify them by representing the person or thing receiving or directly affected by the action expressed by them. When thus used they are called direct objects. (490.)

167. The direct object of a verb or a verbal can be found by asking a question with whom or what before the verb or the verbal. The answer will be the direct object; as, "Whom did John strike?" "John struck James." "What did Columbus discover?" "Columbus discovered America." "Whom do we talk of educating?" "We talk of educating our children." "What is it profitable to study?" "To study grammar is profitable." (But see 615.) Verbs and verbals that have direct objects are said to be transitive. (598.)

EXERCISES

168. Explain the use of the words in italics, and analyze

1, 2, 4, 6, and 7.

1. Cæsar conquered Gaul.

ORAL ANALYSIS

Conquered is the incomplete predicate. Its complement is Gaul, a direct object, by which it is modified.

The sign + shows that the predicate is incomplete.

3. Flavius exhorted the 4. Did Aaron Burr kill

2. You have wronged me. heathen to abandon idolatry. Hamilton? 5. Valdez tried to suppress the slave trade in Cuba. 6. Columbus discovered Cuba. 7. Columbus's brother Bartholomew visited the English monarch, Henry VIII.1

1. See II and 153.

169. Copy or compose three sentences containing nouns used as direct objects. Two containing pronouns.

Objective Predicate Nouns and Pronouns

170. It has been shown that in the sentence "Charles was chosen umpire," the noun umpire is the complement of the verb was, and modifies its subject. In the sentence “The captains chose Charles umpire," the noun umpire is a complement of chose, and modifies Charles by representing the same person. But Charles has become the direct object of chose, and consequently modifies it and is also a complement of it. The verb chose has therefore two complements: the noun Charles, by which it is modified, and the noun umpire, which modifies its direct object. So also in "They endeavored to elect Mr. Brown president," in which the verbal to elect has two complements: Mr. Brown, its direct object, by which it is modified, and · president, which modifies Mr. Brown. It may be seen

that

Nouns and pronouns may be the complements of verbs and verbals, and modify their direct objects by representing the same person or thing. When thus used they are called objective predicate nouns and pronouns.

171. The principal verbs that may join predicate nouns or pronouns to their direct objects are appoint, call, crown, elect, name, etc.

Compare this list of words with the list in 272.

172. It has been seen that the complements of incomplete predicates, or verbs of incomplete predication, are — 1. Direct objects; as, "Try not the pass.” What have I done?"

2. Subjective predicate nouns or adjectives; as, “Art thou the man?" "It is I." "The ocean appears blue."

3. Direct objects and objective predicate nouns or adjectives; as, "Ye call me chief." "Why call ye me good?"

EXERCISE

173. Explain the use of the words in italics, and analyze 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.

I. Our friends call their home Bellevue.

The objective predicate noun is written under the word that it modifies. The two complement signs show that a direct object and an objective predicate noun are needed to complete the meaning of the predicate.

2. They crowned Victoria queen. 3. Name it Jip. 4. Why do they wish to appoint him clerk? 5. Mohammedans call Mecca the holy city. 6. The Democratic party elected Jackson President. The inhabitants were talking of naming the place New Lisbon.

Indirect Objects

174. In the sentence "The President sent Wheeler his commission," the verb sent is followed by two nouns that modify it, Wheeler and commission. The noun commission is its direct object. The noun Wheeler modifies the verb by representing the person to whom the action expressed by the verb is done. So also in the sentence "General Grant desired to send him more troops," the pronoun him modifies the verbal to send in the same way. It may be seen that

Nouns and pronouns may modify verbs and verbals by representing that to or for which the actions expressed by them are done. When thus used they are called indirect objects. (490.)

175. The indirect object of a verb or a verbal can be found by asking a question with to whom or to what or for whom or for what before the verb or verbal. If the answer is a noun or a pronoun, it is the indirect object; as, "To whom did he give the book?" "He gave me the book." "For whom did Ann's mother promise to buy a doll?" "Ann's mother promised to buy her a doll." The indirect object expresses the relation usually expressed by to or for.

176. The principal verbs that may have an indirect object are allow, ask, bring, buy, get, give, leave, lend, make, offer, pass, pay, present, promise, refuse, send, show, sing, teach, tell, throw, write, etc.

The indirect object is equivalent to a noun with the preposition to or for before it; as, "Give John his book." "He bears William a grudge." Build me to William, John to John, me =

a house."

"William

=

=

for me." - Morris.