An English Grammar Part 73

The predicate of a sentence is a verb or verb phrase which says something about the subject.

In order to get a correct definition of the subject, let us examine two specimen sentences:--

1. But now all is to be changed.

2. A rare old plant is the ivy green.

In the first sentence we find the subject by placing the word _what_ before the predicate,--_What_ is to be changed? Answer, _all_.

Consequently, we say _all_ is the subject of the sentence.

But if we try this with the second sentence, we have some trouble,--_What_ is the ivy green? Answer, _a rare old plant_. But we cannot help seeing that an a.s.sertion is made, not of _a rare old plant_, but about _the ivy green_; and the real subject is the latter.

Sentences are frequently in this inverted order, especially in poetry; and our definition must be the following, to suit all cases:--

[Sidenote: _Subject._]

The subject is that which answers the question _who_ or _what_ placed before the predicate, and which at the same time names that of which the predicate says something.

[Sidenote: _The subject in interrogative and imperative simple sentences._]

341. In the interrogative sentence, the subject is frequently after the verb. Either the verb is the first word of the sentence, or an interrogative p.r.o.noun, adjective, or adverb that asks about the subject. In a.n.a.lyzing such sentences, _always reduce them to the order of a statement_. Thus,--

(1) "When should this scientific education be commenced?"

(2) "This scientific education should be commenced when?"

(3) "What wouldst thou have a good great man obtain?"

(4) "Thou wouldst have a good great man obtain what?"

In the imperative sentence, the subject (_you_, _thou_, or _ye_) is in most cases omitted, and is to be supplied; as, "[You] behold her single in the field."

Exercise.

Name the subject and the predicate in each of the following sentences:--

1. The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves.

2. Hence originated their contempt for terrestrial distinctions.

3. Nowhere else on the Mount of Olives is there a view like this.

4. In the sands of Africa and Arabia the camel is a sacred and precious gift.

5. The last of all the Bards was he.

6. Slavery they can have anywhere.

7. Listen, on the other hand, to an ignorant man.

8. What must have been the emotions of the Spaniards!

9. Such was not the effect produced on the sanguine spirit of the general.

10. What a contrast did these children of southern Europe present to the Anglo-Saxon races!

ELEMENTS OF THE SIMPLE SENTENCE.

342. All the elements of the simple sentence are as follows:--

(1) The subject.

(2) The predicate.

(3) The object.

(4) The complements.

(5) Modifiers.

(6) Independent elements.

The subject and predicate have been discussed.

343. The object may be of two kinds:--

[Sidenote: _Definitions. Direct Object_.]

(1) The DIRECT OBJECT is that word or expression which answers the question _who_ or _what_ placed after the verb; or the direct object names that toward which the action of the predicate is directed.

It must be remembered that any verbal may have an object; but for the present we speak of the object of the verb, and by _object_ we mean the _direct_ object.

[Sidenote: _Indirect object_.]

(2) The INDIRECT OBJECT is a noun or its equivalent used as the modifier of a verb or verbal to name the person or thing for whose benefit an action is performed.

Examples of direct and indirect objects are, direct, "She seldom saw her _course_ at a glance;" indirect, "I give _thee_ this to wear at the collar."

[Sidenote: _Complement_:]

344. A complement is a word added to a verb of incomplete predication to complete its meaning.

Notice that a verb of incomplete predication may be of two kinds,--transitive and intransitive.