Object (grammar)

An object ( sentence completion ) referred to in the grammar of a supplement to which the predicate applies (or - in another sense - is itself part of the predicate / sentence statement ). There is a category of syntax. Objects can be made of one or more words. An object may consist of several parts of speech ( pronouns, nouns, Numeralen ) or other syntactic structures ( infinitives with or to link sets) consist.

Genitive object

The genitive object answers the question "Whose? ". It is in German rather rare and usually only found in elevated speech. In Austria, southern Germany and Switzerland, it is completely missing, for example, in the vernacular:

Examples

• I remember [ her ].
• He accused me [ of theft ].
• We require [ your help ].
• You pity on [ my ].

In contrast, in the sentence "I walk the streets [ of the city] ", the words [ of the city] an attribute because it refers to the adverbial " the streets " and the noun " road " explains in more detail. Similarly, other shapes, such as a subjective genitive and genitive objectivus be distinguished from each other, but are sometimes not clearly distinguishable from each other. Example: The expression " The praise of his friend " can be both a) be understood subjektivisch praises ( the friend ) and b ) objektivisch on the question of a target person coming from outside, praise (Man praises the friend). .

Indirect object

The indirect object answers the question " who? ". Certain verbs require the dative object. The indirect object, as distinct from the so-called direct object indirect object of the action ( see below). Often it is in an explanatory relation to the action, so makes it clear why the subject the action takes place ( the direct object ). Even if it is without direct object is expressed that it is not directly under the influence of the subject.

Examples

• I write [ you ] a letter. Question: " Who ," I write a letter?
• I think [ you ] that it was so. Question: " Who " I think?

Accusative

The direct object answers the question " what or whom? ". Certain ( transitive ) verbs require a direct object. The direct object generally refers to the object or person (institution, group of persons ) who, immediately suffers the action, which is expressed by the verb or real action is subject.

Examples

• I love [ you].
• I do not believe you [that ].
• He gives me [ the book ].
• I give the house [ a lick of paint ].

A distinction is made between internal and external direct object: The inner is that the process of which is constructed by the action, the outer exists independently of the action.

Examples

• I write [ the letter ].
• I brush [ the wall ] to ( with color).

If it requires the statement intention indirect object and direct object can thereby, as shown in the examples are next to each other.

Prepositional

The prepositional object responds to a question that contains a preposition. This preposition is always a special, related to the verb. So you can use " to whom? " Or " what? " Ask, to whom someone is waiting. The verb to wait for example, requires a prepositional object with to. Example: I'm waiting [ on ] the train ( question: what I'm waiting on the train? ).

Note: the preposition is also taught the verb: " waiting for something ".

Difference between prepositional and adverbial

Caution: Often the prepositional object is confused with an adverbial: The phrases "I'm waiting on the platform " or "I'm waiting in the station hall " each contain an adverbial determination of the place, but not a prepositional object. One can argue that the question here that is " where? " And not " what? " Is.

A better, but also more complicated test is to check whether or limits within which the verb dependent preposition ( free ) can be selected. If there is a prepositional object, the preposition is so strong from Bezugsverb dependent that they can not or replace it with another only in a few cases, the semantics of the sentence is to be maintained:

Examples

• She is waiting [ to Klaus ]. ( "On " is not interchangeable, cf * from, by Klaus )
• She reports [on their holidays ]. ( "Over" only against "from" interchangeable)

In the second example sentence can be seen that an exchange is possible, but only against a meaningless same preposition. Quite different is the case with an adverbial: Here the prepositions are interchangeable, and that it is always possible to replace the existing preposition by with a different meaning:

Example

• I'm waiting [ on the concourse ]. ( "In", you can replace: on, in, under, behind )

This method is more accurate than the first-mentioned, as often overvalued " sample question " does not always work properly. An example of this is the sentence " It smells here [ vinegar ]. " Stated:

• [What ] it smells? vinegar
• [ As ] it smells here? vinegar

Only the second sample turns out that it is in the phrase is a prepositional object, since the preposition can not be chosen freely.

Direct object

In common parlance, the direct object is equal to the direct object. Language scholars see this differentiated:

The direct object identifies a person or thing that is directly involved in an action.

Examples:

• I take [ the book ] from the shelf.
• I give my sister [ a kiss ].

[ The book ] is a direct object here. In the English language the direct object must follow the verb, in German, the word order is free, as the direct object is always referred to by the accusative.

Indirect object

In common parlance, the indirect object is equal to the indirect object. Language scholars see this differentiated:

The indirect object is in syntagmatic relation with the subject and the direct object, which is why it can not be defined independently of these.

The indirect object occupies the semantic function of the recipient. Example: Paul [ subject / agent ] gave him [ indirect object / Rezipiens ] a book [ direct object / undergoer ].

Therein is contained the idea that the indirect object can perform another action afterwards. ( enter → take → command obey, say → listen )

In other words, refers to the direct object of the target size, the indirect object the Zuwendgröße. In German, the indirect object the direct object differs in that it does not become a subject for passivation.

According to formal criteria, the indirect object is a prototypical example in the dative. The question of whether other directly ruled by the verb objects, ie about genitive objects and moreover prepositional objects are to be counted as indirect objects is not uniform in the grammars. The decision depends on whether one sees primarily a semantic or a syntactic category in the indirect object, and how to define these categories. Similarly, the question is debatable whether you ( and help contradict see; cf. Example 4 below) with a verb that governs only a dative object can speak of an indirect object, because this results in the distinction in target and Zuwendgröße no sense.

Examples:

• ( 1) Paula convicted him of murder. ( Genitive object)
• ( 2) Paula teaches him waltz. ( Two Akkusativobjekte )
• ( 3) Paula thinks of her lover. ( Prepositional object)
• ( 4) Paula helps me. ( Indirect object )
• ( 5) Paula me always comes too late.

Here is a so-called free dating with the function to express a point of view. ( The verb be requires two nominatives as a supplement, but not dating. )

• (6 ) It helps whom it can only help. I'll let the secret just who I really trust.

Dative object as a subordinate clause: This design is rare and is usually only possible if the relative pronoun in the subordinate clause is also indirect object ( someone reveal something and trust someone ).

Objects in English

In English, is basically different approach in the classification of objects as in German. The reason for this, especially the absence of typical case endings can be seen. Therefore, the English has only three types of objects: the direct ( direct), the indirect (indirect ) and the prepositional ( prepositional ) object. If only a single object in a sentence is present, this object is automatically a direct object. When two objects is always the " receiver " ( recipient ) of an action, the indirect object, the second object ( patient ) is declared the direct object.

Examples:

• ( 1) I give her ( recipient, indirect object ) the apple ( patient, direct object ).
• (2) I ask my mother ( recipient ) a question ( patient ).

An object that ( prepositional verb ) followed by a prepositional verb is called a prepositional ( prepositional ) object.

Examples:

• (1 ) They robbed him ( direct object ) of his ring ( prepositional object).
• (2) I protected him ( direct object ) from falling ( prepositional object).

The preposition is in this case due to the verb.