THE INDIRECT OBJECT
=Function.=--Many verbs are followed by two substantives, both of
which are called objects; for example, “Abbot Samson read his monks
a severe lecture.”--_Carlyle._ “I will tell you a common case.”--_De
Quincey._ “For this did God send her a great reward.”--_De Quincey._ If
we ask the questions _read what?_ _will tell what?_ _did send what?_
the answers are the direct objects of the verbs, namely, _a severe
lecture_, _a common case_, _a great reward_.
If we go farther and ask the questions, read a severe lecture _to
whom?_ will tell a common case _to whom?_ did send a great reward _to
whom?_ the answers are--_to his monks_, _to you_, _to her_. But in the
sentences as quoted the preposition to is not expressed, the meaning
being evident without it. A word used like _monks_, _you_, _her_, is
called the indirect object of the verb. It is not a complement, for the
meaning of the verb is complete without it; but it is brought into the
sentence by the verb, and is therefore its adjunct.
The indirect object is usually defined as denoting the one to whom or
for whom something is done. It is not always, however, a personal word,
as is seen in Shakespeare’s sentence,--“Give _thy thoughts_ no tongue
nor _any unproportioned thought_ his act.”
* * * * *
=Position of the Indirect Object.=--The position of the indirect object
is next to the verb. If its position is changed, the preposition is
expressed, as is seen in the sentences,--“Mother made _me_ a dress,”
and “Mother made a dress _for me_.” The logical use of the word
_me_ is identical in the two sentences, but the sentences are built
differently. It prevents confusion if we call _me_ in the second
sentence the object of the preposition _for_, the phrase _for me_ being
an adjunct of the verb just as the one word _me_ is an adjunct of the
verb in the first sentence.
* * * * *
=The Indirect Object in a Passive Sentence.=--When sentences containing
direct and indirect objects are changed to the passive form, the direct
object should become the subject, and the indirect object should remain
after the verb or should become the object of an expressed preposition.
If we change the sentence, “Abbot Samson read his monks a severe
lecture,” we should have, “A severe lecture was read to his monks by
Abbot Samson.” But it is a common practice to make the indirect object
the subject of the passive verb and leave the direct object unchanged;
thus, “The monks were read a severe lecture by Abbot Samson.” In this
sentence _lecture_ is called a residual object of the passive verb
_were read_.
Sentences arising in this way are often extremely awkward, and should
not be tolerated; for example, “I was sold a horse.”
* * * * *
=Verbs that take an Indirect Object.=--The most common are bring,
build, cost, cut, do, fling, forgive, get, give, grant, hand, leave,
make, offer, pay, play, pledge, promise, reach, read, sell, send, show,
teach, tell, throw, weigh, win, wish, yield.
Since the indirect object is not a necessary sentence-element, it
follows that it is frequently omitted, so that we find these verbs
taking only the direct object. On the other hand, we occasionally find
verbs followed by an indirect object and no direct object. This comes
about in several ways.--
(_a_) When the sentence is changed to the passive form and the
preposition _to_ or _for_ is not supplied; as, “This chance was never
offered _me_ before.”--_James Thomson._
(_b_) When the direct object is omitted, being unimportant or else well
known; as, “After he had earned the reward the committee refused to pay
him.”
(_c_) When the verb is intransitive; as, “The effort cost him his
life.” The word _life_ is not a direct object but an answer to the
question _how much?_ therefore an adverbial noun.
Exercise 35
Dispose of all indirect objects in the following sentences. Account for
the sentences in the passive form.
1. The constant sight of chilblains among people who bring you bread,
cut you cheese, and weigh you out sugar, by no means reconciles the
Northern stomach to their prevalence.--_Howells._
2. Give a busy man ten minutes to write a letter, and he will dash it
off at once.
3. Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll.--_Holmes._
4. The boy believes there is a teacher who can sell him
wisdom.--_Emerson._
5. The amiable manners of the Indian girl had won her the regard of
the wife of one of the caciques.--_Prescott._
6. He was allowed abundance of food and liberty to walk in the
courtyard of the tower.--_Shorthouse._
7. I think the old fellow has hitherto had scant justice done him in
the main.--_Lowell._
8. But since he was denied speech, he scorned the inarticulate
mouthings of the lower animals.--_Warner._
9. Paul, seeing a servant in the yard, ordered the boy something to
eat.--_R. H. Dana, Sr._
10. In Venetian streets they give the fallen snow no rest--_Howells._
11. There is the large wooden reel which the blear-eyed old Deacon
sent the minister’s lady.--_Holmes._
12. We are shown the power of our country growing and
expanding.--_Froude._
13. It costs a beautiful person no exertion to paint her image on our
eyes, yet how splendid is that benefit.--_Emerson._