13. Had we never loved sae kindly, We had ne'er been broken-hearted. BURNS: Ae Fond Kiss II (1) Construct five sentences with expletive "It," and five with expletive "There"; point out the real subject in each sentence. (2) Construct two sentences in illustration of each of the other three cases of inversion; point out the subject and predicate of each sentence. 51. The Direct Object and the Indirect Object. We have learned that verbs express action, being, or state of being. These three kinds of verbs may be grouped into two classes. The first class will contain all verbs denoting an action that passes over to a Direct Object; as, 1. I remember him. 2. Brutus stabbed Cæsar. 3. They are calling you. The second class will include all other verbs; that is, verbs expressing being, or state of being, and verbs expressing a self-centered action which by its very nature cannot pass over to an object; as. 4. They live well. 5. He is not here. 6. We have not slept during the night. 7. Henry walked into the house and lay down on the lounge. Such verbs as get, give, make, promise, send, teach, tell, etc., express action that not only passes over to a direct object but that may pass on to a receiver, or Indirect Object; as, 8. He gave her a book. 9. Tell me a story. 10. Forgive us our debts. 11. They made them a doll house. The indirect object usually expresses a "to" or "for" relation. "He gave me a book" means "He gave a book to me." "Pluck me a rose" means "Pluck a rose for me." The indirect object, however, after "ask" expresses a "from" or "of" relation; as, He asked me a question. 52. The Direct Object of a verb names the person or thing acted upon directly. 53. The Indirect Object of a verb names the person or thing acted upon indirectly. 54. A Transitive Verb is one that is followed by a direct object. 55. An Intransitive Verb is one that is not followed by a direct object. "Transitive" means "having the power to pass over." Bacon says that "Cold is active and transitive into bodies adjacent, as well as heat." NOTE.-In such a sentence as "He eats slowly," "eats" is frequently called a transitive verb used intransitively. There is no such thing as a transitive verb used intransitively, or an intransitive verb used transitively. Use, or function, is what alone makes a verb transitive or intransitive. When a verb in the active voice does not take a direct object in a particular sentence, it is an intransitive verb in that sentence, whatever it may be elsewhere. EXERCISES I Find the direct and indirect objects in these selections: 1. I wiped away the weeds and foam, I fetched my sea-born treasures home; Had left their beauty on the shore, With the sun and the sand and the wild uproar. EMERSON: Each and All 2. Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, HOLMES: The Chambered Nautilus 3. And don't confound the language of the nation With long-tailed words in osity and ation. J. H. FRERE: The Monks and the Giants 4. God gives us love. Something to love He lends us. 5. Tell me not in mournful numbers Life is but an empty dream! TENNYSON: To J. S. LONGFELLOW: Psalm of Life 6. Diamond me no diamonds! prize me no prizes! TENNYSON: Elaine II Make a sentence with each of the following verb phrases; let each sentence contain a compound subject, a direct object, and an indirect object* : A study of these sentences shows 1. That the active voice represents the subject as acting, while the passive voice represents the subject as acted upon; *Remember that an indirect object cannot have a preposition before it. In "He handed me a book" and "He handed a book to me," "me" and "to me" do fulfill the same function; but "me" is an indirect object, while "to me" is a prepositional phrase. 2. That the object in the active voice becomes the subject in the passive voice; 3. That intransitive verbs, since they have no objects, cannot be used in the passive voice; 4. That all transitive verbs, since they have objects, may be used in the passive voice; 5. That the predicate in the passive voice cannot be a single word, but must be a verb phrase; 6. That the subject in the active voice has the preposition "by" before it in the passive voice. NOTE. Two prepositions, "to" and "with," may sometimes usurp the function of "by"; as, 1. That is known to everybody. 2. Miss A. was married to Mr. B. 3. These hills will soon be carpeted with grass. 57. Voice is the difference in the form and function of verbs which indicates whether the subject acts or is acted upon. 58. The Active Voice represents the subject as acting. 59. The Passive Voice represents the subject as acted upon. EXERCISES In the following sentences change each active voice into the passive voice, and each passive voice into the active voice: 1. They were tanned by the sun. 2. Shallow waters make most noise. |