6. Object

 

Exercise 6.1. Find objects in the following sentences and say what they are expressed by.

 

1. 1.       I should insist on my husband improving me, or else we part.

2. 2.       She pulled out a cigarette and held it between her lips.

3. 3.       Could they prevent flying in war time?

4. 4.       Haviland closed the door.

5. 5.       He now held him responsible for his wife’s death.

6. 6.       I remember seeing you once.

7. 7.       He found it impossible to utter the next word.

8. 8.       Jane always championed the unfortunate.

9. 9.       He found a number of persons in the Morse home.

10. 10.   It cost me a pretty penny.

11. 11.   He couldn’t afford to buy it.

12. 12.   He saw someone coming toward them.

13. 13.   She made it clear from the beginning that she had come on purpose.

14. 14.   You ought to know all about statues and things.

15. 15.   He said hi several times but got no response.

 

A. Direct Object: used after TRANSITIVE verbs

 

Some verbs are transitive in English and intransitive in Russian:

He plays chess. - Он играет в шахматы.

Some verbs are transitive in Russian and intransitive in English:

Я слушаю вас. - I listen to you.

 

Some phrasal verbs can be transitive.

Most of them can be separated when the object is a noun and must be separated when the object is a pronoun:

to try on a dress / to try a dress on - to try it on

 

Phrasal verbs (a verb + an adverbial particle) should not be confused with a verb + a preposition:

to fill up the forms = to fill them up (to fill up what?) à a phrasal verb + a direct object

to go up the hill (to go where?) à a verb + a prepositional object

 

Exercise 6.2. (oral) Respond to the instructor’s remarks following the pattern below.

 

Pattern: Did you fill out all the forms? - Yes, I filled them out last week.

 

B. Indirect Object: used after TRANSITIVE verbs usually together with the direct object

 

It shows the person to whom or for whom the action is done.

Sometimes the direct object can be omitted if it is understood or implied.

 

Exercise 6.3. Analyze objects in the following sentences.

 

1. 1.       Where are the papers you have brought me?

2. 2.       Who will pay you for this?

3. 3.       The telegram was sent them two weeks ago.

4. 4.       They left him alone.

5. 5.       I owe you now.

6. 6.       It hardly cost her anything to get this car.

7. 7.       I meant to have given you some money this morning. Please, forgive me my poor memory. I’ll give it to you in the afternoon.

8. 8.       Please, write me as much as you can.

9. 9.       The gardener gave the fence a new coat of paint.

10. 10.   Fetch your friend a chair.

11. 11.   Fetch your friend to the party.

12. 12.   Could you teach me how to do it?

13. 13.   Don’t keep the books too long; return them in due time.

14. 14.   The neighbors asked me when I could return them their mower.

15. 15.   His voice refused him.

 

Prepositions with indirect objects.

 

a) after some verbs the indirect object is ALWAYS used with TO:

SAY to me: announce, confess, describe, demonstrate, explain, introduce,

propose, prove, recommend, repeat, report, suggest

b) in other cases, the indirect object is used with TO only IF IT FOLLOWS the direct object:

He sent a letter to his friends. à He sent them a letter.

c) if the verb expresses favor or service, FOR is used with the indirect object: