Search results for 'tag:Direct objects tag:Grammar' matching tags 'Direct objects' and 'Grammar'

Re: infinitive phrase following the verb "hope"

Raen — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:01:14 GMT

Within 2 minutes of the previous post, I ran into this one:

I saw him trying to open the trunk.

Answer:

trying to open the trunk is a participial phrase modifying the direct object him/to open the trunk is a noun infinitive phrase used as the direct object to the verbal trying

I have no problem with the first part of the answer, but can someone explain the 2nd part?

For this one, my answer is in accordance with the grammar book's:

Jim loves to play basketball.

Answer: to play basketball is a noun infinitive phrase used as the direct object

Regards

Raen

infinitive phrase following the verb "hope"

Raen — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:53:31 GMT

Here's the sentence:

Jack hopes to join the Army next month.

Answer: an infinitive phrase used as a direct object.

I defined it as: an adverb infinitive phrase used to modify the verb "hope".

I see the verb "hope' as an intransitive verb. From what I learned, an intransitive verb doesn't have a direct object to recieve the action of the verb, rather it's used, for example, with prepostions to connect with the other parts of a sentence, exmaple:

He waited for her for a long time.

Not:

He waited her a long time.

As it is with "hope":

He hopes for the best result. (intransitive verb. for the best result modifying the verb "hopes" telling how)

Not:

He hopes the best result. (the best result being the direct objective)

Would someone clarify this? Either there's misinformation in the grammar book or I was mistaken somewhere along the way? Thanks.

Raen

Re: Grammar: a large meteor hitting the moon

CalifJim — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:35:44 GMT

a large meteor hitting the moon is a noun clause. It's the subject of the sentence. hitting is the "head" of the clause. The hitting is what would cause the melting.

The clause itself has a subject (a large meteor), a verb (hitting), and a direct object (the moon).

It's a 'non-finite' clause -- a 'gerundive' clause.

Re: unexpected visitor

Avangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:58:25 GMT

New2grammar
Here are some references:
http://books.google.com.my/books?hl=en&q=%22I%20opened%20a%20crack%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wp
Avangi
I don't think in the US we'd say "I opened a crack" in this context.

This was quite an experience for me. I learned that a usage which is unnatural to me is perfectly natural to others. Thank you.

The famous educator Alfred North Whitehead claimed your education is only useful after you've thrown away your books and notes. Although I never quite agreed, I fancy that's where I'm now at (to borrow from the vernacular). It's a bit painful to re-teach my brain. And yet I realize this is what you guys go through many times every day. My hat's off to you.

"I opened a crack [of/in the door/window]." This is very hard for me to swallow.

To me, to open a crack in something is to create a fracture where one is not supposed to be - like what the stupid bulldozer operator did to the foundation wall of my house. "Crack" is the direct object of the verb "to open." It's like "to create a crack."

While riding in the car, someone may say, "Please crack your window." I learned to accept this only after hearing it many times. "Window" is the direct object of the verb "to crack."

"I went to the door and opened a crack." What is the direct object of "opened"? Is it "crack," or is it [door] understood??? Or is it the same structure as , "I went to the door and screamed a little"??

What I'm really comfortable with is, "I opened the door a crack." "Door" is the direct object of "to open," and "a crack" is adverbial.

I guess this should have been a separate thread.

Best wishes, - A.

Re: Plz Correct me !

Cute572 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:09:19 GMT

Thanks Goodman!

Could anyone tell me, in descriptive writing what tense usually writer choose.

And Guys please reply my 2nd post last two sentenses as well. And explain we can separate verb and subject i.e mirror and curtain, by using comma for emphasis like Feebs did?

Third sentence, I have made some changes. Please check this as well.

The soft curtain hanging and swinging [I am not using comma because it will separate both curtain Subject and hanging Verb] over the rood with moving winds and touching my chair [or desk] unintentionally. [This adverb is appropriate fits?]

Or following structure seemed less congested

The soft curtain hanging over a rood, and swinging with moving [can use melodious or rythemetic or some word instead of moving?] winds; [semicolon used here or comma ?] somehow, [comma is ok here?] unintentionally touches my chair at constant intervals. [puntucation is correct ?]

And what about this similar sentence grammar?

Above window, long rood holds the curtain from the upper edge of window. Is it ok to use and we would this underline part direct object ?

I request to explain each of these three versions with punctuation i used

Thanks !

Re: wife/girlfriend...advance/further

Dawnstorm — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:45:56 GMT

Grammar Geek
I think Nona's example about talking about your mother when she was a child and still referring to her as your mother is a good analogy.

First,. let me say that I agree usage-wise Nona and you. I also think that the mother-example is a good one - but it's not a perfect one.

It's a good one, because it demonstrates the difference between the time of action and the time of speaking. Noun references are routinely rooted in the present, even in past tense senteces, and the mother-example demonstrates that.

But there is a cognitive difference in "married his wife", as there is a semantic relationship between the verb "marry" and the noun "wife", in so far as the act of marrying results in wife-status. So it's quite possible that individual speakers (native speakers, even) have an intuitive correctness condition that doesn't allow the word "wife" as the object of the verb "marry", quite independent of tense. To summarise, I think part of the argument is lexical: what sort of words can the verb "marry" select as direct objects?

The thing is, disliking "wife" as the direct object of "marry" is reasonable. It's somewhat similar to "The Queen knighted the knight." (but without the etymological close relation that adds to the oddness). Or, "The army conscripted the soldier." Or "The jury pronounced the prisoner guilty."

It's an interesting discussion, really. Since "married his wife" doesn't sound odd to me at all (I'm not a native speaker), and since native speakers agree, I wonder why the tense relation between verb and noun-naming can override nosensical direct-object relation. (I do think it's a disjunction between the time-levels that's at issue here; the noun-reference is firmly in the present - referring to a specific person.)

Re: Grammar questions

Mister Micawber — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:12:49 GMT

1. (My husband Mark and I both do volunteer work) but (Ryan was only six years old) -- two independant clauses conected by the conj. but? -- Well, yes... BUT sample sentences should make some sense, Fernanda! There is no evident relationship between the two facts, so they should not even be in the same paragraph, much less the same sentence. 'I drive and my wife rides shotgun' -- two independent but RELATED clauses.

2. The principal has distributed a list (that shows the costs of buying supplies in developing countries)

the sentence between brackets is an adj. phrase and a postmodifier of "list", which is a direct object? -- Yes

3. Seventy dollars would buy (a well)

a well is a direct object in this sentence? -- Yes

4. We thought it was very nice (that he wanted to do something important)

the clause between brackets is a relative clause? which is its function? -- Yes. It is an adjective complement

5..that he wanted to do something important

is it a non-finite verb (to-infinitive)?-- 'To do' is.

Grammar questions

fernanda — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:28:47 GMT

Sorry, but I think I am not good with this things. I hope this time it is OK. Here I go

Well, I need to know if the functions of the following sentences are correct:

1. (My husband Mark and I both do volunteer work) but (Ryan was only six years old)

two independant clauses conected by the conj. but?

2. The principal has distributed a list (that showed the costs of buying supplies in developing countries)

the sentence between brakets is an adj. phrase and a postmodifier of "list" which is a direct object?

3. Seventy dollars would buy (a well)

a well is a direct object in this sentence?

4. We thought it was very nice (that he wanted to do somthing important)

the sentence between brakets is a relative clause? which is its function?

5..that he wanted to do somthing important

is it a non finit (to infinitive)?

thanks a lot!

Re: grammar learning

Grammar Geek — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:40:37 GMT

Raen, at times like this I realize just how poorly I chose my nickname here.

What goes from one person to the other is the DIRECT object. The $50.

The person who receives the direct object is the INDIRECT object. The clerk.

I sent a letter to my sister. The letter is the DO, and my sister is the IO.

"exactly how that was done" is, I think a noun phrase serving as the object. Exactly what was done is what I'd like to know. See how it serves as the subject when you turn it around? It's a noun phrase.

I'm sorry, but someone else is going to have to address your second question. I've never seen the value in learning this stuff. I tell my 11 year old that, but then tell her she has to do her homework anyway.

Re: grammar learning

Raen — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:05:08 GMT

Ok, I think it helps.

the clerk--direct object

50--indirect object

correct?

Can I continue with more questions?

Is the underlined part of the sentence adverbial clause or adjective or something else?

"I'd like to know exactly how that was done."

"I find it incredibily easy to misinterpret others' intention when exchanging opinions over the internet."

If also any of you disagree with the placement of underlining please do say so, for I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing, I'm really a beginner in this (grammar).

Thanks

Raen