9 страница. Bosinney's death. (Galsworthy)

Bosinney's death. (Galsworthy)

"You are afraid of dying," said Bing. (Heym)

 

§ 23. Ways of expressing the object.

The object is expressed by the following parts of speech:

1. A noun in the common case.

We ought to give him a present, too. (Mansfield)

2. A pronoun (personal in the objective case, possessive, defining,
reflexive, demonstrative, indefinite).

С о к a n e. Our little discussion has given me quite an appe­tite.

Trench. It has taken mine away. (Shaw)

"I must do my best for her," thought Jolyon. (Galsworthy)

You ought to know all about statues and things. (Galsworthy)

What will you do with yourself? (Galsworthy)

"Who gave you that?" he asked. (Bennett)

... she's alone in the world, and she must have someone to take

care of her. (Maugham)

Here we must mention the peculiar use of the pronoun it in the function of an object, similar to its use in the function of the subject. Sometimes the pronoun // is used as a real (notional) object.

She pulled out a cigarette and let it dangle between her lip^s unlighted. (Wilson) — Она достала сигарету и держала ее во рту, не зажигая.

But sometimes it only introduces a real object expressed by ^an infinitive or gerundial phrase or by a subordinate clause. In this case it is a formal introductory object which is not translated into Russian-

The formal it is characteristic of literary style and is mostly used after certain verbs followed by adjectives (sometimes nouns). Here belong such verbs as to think, to find, to consider, to make, etc.

He found it impossible to utter the next word. (Kahler) — Он почувствовал, что не может произнести больше ни одного слова.

Не made it a point to save so much every week. (London) — Он поставил себе целью каждую неделю откладывать опреде­ленную сумму.

She made it clear from the beginning that she had come with

Bing. (Sanborn) — Она с самого начала ясно дала понять, что пришла с Бингом.

3. A substantivized adjective or participle.

June Forsyte always championed the unfortunate.

In old times nomadic tribes when moving to another place left the dying behind.

4. An infinitive, an infinitive phrase, or an infinitive construc-
tion.

The sergeant ordered his men to stop.

When he saw someone come toward them, he avoided him neatly. (Sanborn)

The old woman held the child tight and waited for the storm to pass. (Dickens)

5. A gerund, a gerundial phrase, or a gerundial construction.

Could they prevent flying in war-time? (Galsworthy)

I remember seeing you at the opening of the Transport workers

summer club. (Shaw)

I don't like him going away with Lord lllingworth. (Wilde)

6. Any part of speech used as a quotation.

Through the door in the hall leading to the basement he called "Hsst!" several times... (Galsworthy)

7. A prepositional phrase with a noun or a gerund.

Several times he had sought for a suitable opportunity to dis­close his exciting secret. (Bennett)

They all approved of his not being beaten by that cousin of his. (Galsworthy)

Do you object to my going away for a month?

Improving a husband! No. I shall insist upon my husband im-proving me, or else we part. (Ch. Bronte)

8. A group of words which is one part of the sentence, i. e. a syn~ tactically indivisible group.

But it was only Mrs. Bunting who asked for a pinch of salt.

(Lindsay)

He found a number of persons in the Morse home. (London)

 

§ 24. Kinds of objects.

There are three kinds of objects in English: the direct object, the indirect object, and the cognate object.

 

§ 25. The direct object.

The direct object is used after transitive verbs with which it is closely connected as it denotes a person or thing directly affected by the action of the verb. It is used without any preposition.

Again I moved my head negatively. (Braddon)

If there is only one object present, it is generally the direct object.

He painted the fence yesterday.

If we compare Russian and English we shall see that in English there are more verbs taking a direct object than in Russian. It should be kept in mind that sometimes the prepositional object in Russian also corresponds to the direct object in English.

Он сел на лошадь. — He mounted the horse. Он играет в шахматы. — He plays chess.

There are a few English verbs which can have two direct objects.

I asked him his name.

 

§ 26. The indirect object.

The indirect object denotes a living being to whom the action of the verb is directed. There are also cases when it denotes a thing. There are two types of indirect object:

1. The indirect object of the first type, which expresses the addressee of the action.

It is used with transitive verbs which take a direct object, so it hardly ever stands alone.

She gave him an interesting book to read.

Don't forget to buy him a toy on his birthday. — He забудьте

купить ему игрушку ко дню рождения.

Compare:

"I shall buy him," said the slave-owner. — «Я его куплю», — ска­зал рабовладелец.

Thus, when translating into English such Russian sentences as дай­те мне, покажите мне, a direct object must be introduced, otherwise the sentence either has no meaning at all, or its meaning is changed altogether.

 

Note. There are three verbs which may take an indirect object without any direct object. In this case the indirect object is used with the preposi­tion to. These verbs are: to read, to write, to sing.

When I was ill she often read to me.

Won't you sing to me?

Write to me as often as you can.

There is, however, a tendency in Modern English to use no preposition with the verb to write.

Write me as often as you can.

 

As a rule the indirect object comes before the direct object. In this case it is used without a preposition.

Much upset and without hope now she sent Soames the tele­gram. (Galsworthy)

When the direct object precedes the indirect object, the latter is used chiefly with the preposition to and sometimes for. These prepositions niake the indirect object more prominent.

Farrish was giving an interview to the correspondents.

(Heym)

But sometimes we cannot change the order of words at will, namely when the direct object is a pronoun and the indirect object a noun. I_n this case the indirect object follows the direct object.

I sent him to his mother.

When the direct object is expressed by the pronoun it, it always precedes the indirect object.

Give it to him.

In colloquial speech, when the indirect object is a pronoun, the preposition to is often not used: Give it him, but: Give it to Mary.

There are a number of verbs after which the indirect object is used with the preposition to even when it comes before the direct object. These are: to explain, to dictate, to suggest, to relate, to announce, to ascribe, to attribute, to communicate, to introduce, to submit, to repeat, to dedicate, to disclose, to interpret, to point out.

Sometimes in the privacy of his bedroom James would reveal to Emily the real suffering that his son's misfortune caused him. (Galsworthy)

I shall dictate to you the names of books to be read for your examination.

He is not very bright, I attribute to his diligence the progress

he has made in English in so short a time.

The professor explained to us some obscure passages in

Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

This order of words is mostly found when the direct object is modi­fied by an extended attribute.

2. The indirect object of the second type, which is more frequently used with intransitive verbs than with transitive ones and which does not always express the addressee of the action.

An idea had occurred to Soames. (Galsworthy)

My childhood was passed with a grandmother. (Dickens)

I want to thank you for your kindness.

Here lies one of the points of its difference from the indirect object of the first type which is used with or without a preposition depending upon its place with regard to the direct object. The indirect object of the second type can be called the prepositional indirect object. So in the sentence She bought a piece of embroidery for me — for me is an indirect object, whereas in the sentence She did this piece of embroidery for me —for me is a prepositional indirect object. In contrast to the indirect object of the first type, which is used only with the preposition to and seldom for, the use of the prepositional indirect object is not confined to any definite set of prepositions. Thus it can be used with any preposition.

The prepositional indirect object is used not only with verbs but also with adjectives, words denoting state, and nouns of verbal origin.

I am uneasy about it.

She was not aware of his being there.

Her behaviour towards her friends was irreproachable.

 

§ 27. The complex object.

The direct and the prepositional indirect object may be simple and complex.

The complex object consists of two components, of which the second stands in predicate relation to the first. The two components form an indivisible unit and consequently must be regarded as one part of the sentence. The complex object can be non-prepositional and prepositional.

I observed Agnes turn pale. (Dickens)

Thus these two waited with impatience for the three years to be over. (Buck)

The first component of the complex object is a noun in the com­mon case or in the possessive case, a personal pronoun in the objective case, or a possessive pronoun; the second is an infinitive, a participle, a gerund, seldom a noun, an adjective, a word denoting state, or a prepositional phrase.

He hated her to work in the boarding house. (Prichard)

On looking towards her again, I perceived her face clouded with

embarrassment. (E. Bronte)

He could see the man and Great Beaver talking together.

(London)

She thinks herself very clever.

As he spoke, he felt himself unusually on edge. (Lindsay)

щ ------.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note. The group 'object + objective predicative' is very close to the complex object, but the connection between its two elements is not close enough to make them one part of the sentence; so while the complex object can nearly always be extended into an object clause, the direct object with its objective predicative cannot.

E.g. He felt himself unusually on edge can be changed into He felt that he was unusually on edge, but They left him alone cannot be changed in the same way.

 

All the predicative constructions when used in the function of an object due to their structure form a complex object. Thus we have a complex object expressed by a participial construction, a gerundial construction, an Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction and a for-to-Infinitive Construction.

Dick found himself walking in the direction of his friend Mike's place. (Lindsay)

His new duties had kept him occupied. (Douglas)

My lady assures him of his being worth no complaint from her.

(Dickens)

"Well," said Soames, "I want you to come out to the Stores, with me, and after that we'll go to the Park." (Galsworthy)

 

§ 28. The cognate object.

There is a special kind of object in English which has the following peculiarities.

1. It is used with intransitive verbs though it has no preposition.

2. It is expressed by a noun which is either of the same root as the verb or is similar to it in meaning.

3. It is almost regularly attended by an attribute with which it forms a combination that is close in meaning to an adverbial modifier: to live a happy life — to live happily.

The cognate object is generally used in such combinations as: to smile a sad smile, to laugh a bitter laugh, to die a violent death, etc.

But she died a dreadful death, poor soul... (Collins) — Но она погибла ужасной смертью, бедняжка... That night the roused forces of Good and Evil fought their terrible fight for her soul... (Collins) — В эту ночь пробу­дившиеся силы Добра и Зла вели ожесточенную борьбу за ее душу.

For the next four days he lived a simple and blameless life on

thin captain's biscuits. (Jerome) — В течение последующих четырех дней он жил простой непорочной жизнью и питался постными капитанскими сухарями.

 

 

The Attribute

 

§ 29. The attribute is a secondary part of the sentence which quali­fies a noun, a pronoun, or any other part of speech that has a nominal character.

An attribute can be either in pre-position or in post-position to the word it modifies.

What did she do with herself... in that little hole? (Galsworthy) Under a tree opposite Knightsbridge Barracks... he took out once more the morocco case. (Galsworthy)

As a result of the loss of inflexions, the attribute in English, as dis­tinct from Russian, does not agree with the word it modifies in number, case, or gender. It may be expressed by almost any part of speech.

 

§ 30. Ways of expressing the attribute.

It can be expressed by:

1. An adjective (the most common way of expressing an attri-
bute).

This big girl is very lazy.

I am speaking about the big girl, not the little one.

He seems a very silent, awkward, bashful lad. (Thackeray)

Meanwhile she was the gayest and most admired woman.

(Thackeray)

2. A pronoun (possessive, defining, demonstrative, interrogative,
relative).

His shrewd, steady eyes had lost none of their clear shining. (Buck)

Each of these ladies held fans in their hands, and each, with some

touch of colour, some emphatic feather or brooch, testified to

the solemnity of the opportunity. (Galsworthy)

I looked at her — at her, and at none other, from that moment.

(Collins)

James once went down to see for himself what sort of place this

was that they had come from. (Galsworthy)

In that great London, what time had they to be sentimental?

(Galsworthy)

It should be kept in mind that possessive pronouns are often not translated into Russian. On the other hand when translating from Rus­sian into English one should often insert possessive pronouns.

He extended his hand to me. — Он протянул мне руку. «Пойди вымой руки», — сказала мать. — "Go and wash your hands," said mother.

3. A numeral (cardinal or ordinal).

In his final examinations he won six distinctions... (Aldington) The second generation of Forsytes felt that he (Bosinney) was not greatly to their credit. (Galsworthy)

4. A noun:

(a) In the common case. One of the marked features of the English
language is the wide use of nouns in the common case as attributes in
pre-position; in Russian nouns are never used as attributes in pre-posi-
tion.

I recognized him as Dougal Todd, the village painter and carpen­ter. (Cronin) — Я узнал Дугала Тодда, местного деревенского маляра и плотника.

Не was pleased that the girl seemed impressed because it showed business instinct. (Galsworthy) — Он был дово­лен, что на девушку это произвело впечатление, ибо это свидетельствовало о том, что у нее есть коммерческая жилка.

Не wore a large straw hat. — На нем была большая соломен­ная шляпа.

As seen from the above examples the attributive nouns are rendered in Russian either by nouns in the genitive case used in post-position or by adjectives.

(b) In the genitive case. This kind of attribute is generally used in
pre-position.

Her father's nerves would never stand the disclosure. (Galswor­thy) — Нервы ее отца не выдержат этого известия.

However, an attribute expressed by the preposition of a noun in the genitive case is used in post-position (the so-called Absolute Genitive): this clever joke of mother's; a book of my brother's.

How could he go up to Oxford now, among all those chaps, those splendid friends of Crum's? (Galsworthy)

In this case the noun modified is always used either with the in­definite article or with a demonstrative pronoun. The latter makes it emphatic.

The same construction may be used with possessive pronouns in their absolute form: a friend of mine; that pretty sister of his.

5. A prepositional phrase.

To think that a man of his abilities would stoop to such a horrible trick as that! (Dreiser)

And the impressions of six years are not got over in such a space of time. (Thackeray)

Very often in translating English o/-phrases into Russian nouns in the genitive case without any preposition are used.

the captain of the ship — капитан корабля a cup of tea — чашка чая

6. An adverb:

(a) In pre-position.

In Russian an attribute cannot be expressed by an adverb in pre­position. Consequently in translating these sentences into Russian we use adjectives: the then secretary — тогдашний секретарь.

In the light of after events one cannot but sympathize with them. (Fox) — В свете последующих событий им нельзя не сочувствовать.

(b) In post-position.

A voice inside said, "Come in." — Голос из комнаты сказал: «Войдите!»

The room above is large and light. — Комната наверху боль­шая и светлая.

The man there is my brother. — Вон тот человек — мой брат. Will it be a step on or a step back? — Это будет шаг вперед или шаг назад?

The above examples show that in Russian an adverb can also be used as an attribute in post-position. However, not every English attributive adverb in post-position can be rendered by an adverb in Russian.

 

7. Participles 1 and II or a participial phrase.

The participle in the function of an attribute can be used in pre­position and in post-position. In the latter case it is mostly used with accompanying words.

On the opposite side of the road to the site of the destroyed church is a fine avenue of old trees. (Abrahams) It looks brighter over there. I think it is only a passing shower. (Du Ma и her)

I was dazzled by the snow glittering on the tree tops.

(Ch. Bronte)

8. A prepositional phrase or a prepositional construction with a
gerund.

Sally hated the idea of borrowing and living on credit. (Pri-chard)

The thought of having it copied again and again set him to

smiling. (Shaw)

The idea of its being barbarous to confine wild animals

had probably never even occurred to his father for instance... (Galsworthy)

(For ways of translating the gerund see Chapter VIII, The Ger­und.)

9. An infinitive, an infinitive phrase, or an infinitive construction.
The infinitive as an attribute is always used in post-position.

They must have more companionship, more opportunity to broaden their life. (Dreiser)

All right, go back to your office, you've got work to do. (Heym) But it was not easy to carry out the resolution never to approach her. (Hardy)

This is an English article for you to translate into Russian by

tomorrow.

10. Quotation groups.

These are generally rendered in Russian by means of the conjunc­tion как будто, точно and a clause which stands in post-position.

I don't like his "don't-talk-to-me-or-ril-contradict-you" air. — Мне не нравится то, что у него такой вид, как будто он хочет сказать: «Не разговаривайте со мной, а то я буду вам пе­речить».

Не was being the boss again, using the it's-my-money-now-do-as-you're-told voice. (Wilson) — Он теперь снова был хозяином и говорил тоном, в котором слышалось: «Теперь деньги мои, делайте как вам велят».

§ 31. An apposition is a special kind of attribute which is expressed by a noun (with or without accompanying words) which characterizes or explains the word modified by giving the person or thing another name. There are two kinds of apposition, the close apposition and the loose or detached apposition.

§ 32. The close apposition.

A close apposition is not separated by commas and stands in close connection with the word modified. These word-groups generally con­sist either of the name of a person and a noun denoting a title, rank, profession, or the name of a person and a noun denoting relationship, or a geographical name and some common noun, e. g. Professor Brown, Captain Marryat, Aunt Polly, President Roosevelt, etc.

Even Aunt Ann was there. (Galsworthy)

Professor Sommerville practised what he preached. (Carter)

In these word-groups the noun modified is the name of a person or a geographical name, the first component is a common noun in apposition.

■ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note. In case the common noun is preceded by a possessive or a demon­strative pronoun, it becomes more important and acquires a stronger stress. Consequently the relation between the components of the word group is reversed. The first component is modified by the name of a person or a geographical name which is an apposition:

That boy Peter has a literary turn of mind. He is sure to become a writer.

 

Sometimes the apposition consists of the preposition of+ noun, g. the town of Daventry, the city of London.

§ 33. The loose or detached apposition.

A loose apposition is not so closely connected with the noun. It j_s always separated by commas and has a stress of its own.

Dr. Winchcliffe, my predecessor, was a classmate of my father's (Sanborn)

With her elder and younger sisters she lived now in the house of Timothy, her sixth and youngest brother, on the Bayswater Road. (Galsworthy)

 

 

The Adverbial Modifier

 

§ 34. The adverbial modifier is a secondary part of the sentence which modifies a verb, an adjective or an adverb. According to their meaning we distinguish the following kinds of adverbial modifiers.

1. The adverbial modifier of time.

We shall try it tomorrow. (Heym)

While dancing, Cowperwood had occasion to look at Aileen often... (Dreiser)

These preparations happily completed, I bought a house in Covent Garden Market. (Dickens)

After receiving the cheque back, there seemed to him to be something wrong somewhere. (Galsworthy)

2. The adverbial modifier of frequency.

Though they had often bothered him he had never bothered them. (London)

3. The adverbial modifier of place and direction.

Gains had spies everywhere. (Douglas)

Among the hills Martin and Ruth sat side by side. (London)

4. The adverbial modifier of manner.

Hendel Hull so obviously adored his wife. (Sanborn) Their conversations were conducted with icy formality. (Doug­las)

Marcfillus accepted this information without betraying ^n,s amazement. (Douglas)

5. The adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

Then the gun rolled into the old town, clattering over the stones. (Heym)

Now I can go to bed at last without dreading tomorrow.

(Shaw)

6. The adverbial modifier of degree and measure.

It is rather good. It weighs a pound.

7. The adverbial modifier of cause.

The men were weary, having run behind the beasts all day.

(Buck)

The doctor said operate, it can't do any harm but I have great fear of the knife for my poor boy, his mother having died under it due to negligence. (Greene)

8. The adverbial modifier of result (consequence).

She is too fond of the child to leave it.

9. The adverbial modifier of condition. (It is very rare both in English
and in Russian.)

Mrs. Micawber thought that with large means her husband would have distinguished himself long ago. (Dickens) She never would have been able to make a success of the din­ing-room, but for the kindness and assistance of the men.

(Packard)

10. The adverbial modifier of comparison.

Like all other Forsytes of a certain age they kept carriages of their own. (Galsworthy)

Judice is as white as mud. She's as perfect as sin. (Sanborn) And then his wife's face flushed and contracted as though in pain. (Gaskell)

He saw as if visible in the air before him in illuminated figures

the whole sum. (London)

John plays the piano better than Mary.

11. The adverbial modifier of concession. (It is very rare.)

Notwithstanding the success achieved by Napoleon in the initial stage of the war of 1812 he was finally defeated. Though frightened he carried it off very well. (Cronin)

12. The adverbial modifier of purpose.

Ham sometimes walked with us to show us the boats and ships. (Dickens)

They opened the way for her to come to him. (Douglas) They cleared swamp growth for planting. (Eliot)

 

§ 35. Ways of expressing the adverbial modifier.

It can be expressed by:

1. An adverb.

Rachel turned instinctively to prevent a possible intruder from entering. (Bennett)

2. A noun with or without accompanying words.

Next day the morning hours seemed to pass very slowly at Mr. Pellet's. (E. Bronte)

They walked miles without finding any habitation.

3. A prepositional phrase.

The red dust spread up and out and over everything. (Wells) I walked straight up the lane. (Bennett)

4. A noun, pronoun, adjective, infinitive, participle, or prepositional
phrase with a subordinating conjunction.

Mary swims better than her sister.

My sister plays tennis better than I.

If necessary, she must see Mr. Bridgenorth. (Gaskell)

He shrank back, his arms lifted as though to ward off physical

violence. (London)

While waiting for the water to boil, he held his face over the stove. (London)

Sometimes he (Martin), when with her, noted an unusual bright­ness in her eyes. (London)

5. A participle or a participial phrase.

Having decided to accept his sister's counsel Marcellus was anxious to perform his unpleasant duty. (Douglas) Turning away, she caught sight of the extra special edition о The Signal. (London)

When questioned, she explained everything very carefully

6. Absolute constructions.

(a) The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

He had wrapped her up with great care, the night being dark and frosty. (Dickens)

Dehn burst in, the terror of the streets written on his face.

(Heym)

(b) The Nominative Absolute construction.

He stopped and turned about, his eyes brightly proud. (Doug­las)

(c) The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction.

He looked at Mr. Micawber attentively, with his whole face breathing short and quick in every feature. (Dickens)

(d) The Prepositional Absolute construction.

He rushed forward, with fury in his looks, and fire in his eye.

7. A prepositional phrase or construction with a gerund.

His father looked up without speaking. (Lindsay)

Nellman was arrested by the FBI... for "being a member of the

Communist Party". (Daily Worker)

On her going to his house to thank him, he happened to see

her through a window. (Dickens)

I left the room without anybody noticing it.

8. An infinitive, an infinitive phrase, or an infinitive construc-
tion.

They rose to go into the drawing-room. (Galsworthy)

So, on the following evening, we again assembled, to discuss

and arrange our plans. (Jerome)

He put the picture on the table for George to get a better view of it. (Maugham)

 

ADDITIONAL REMARKS

It is not always easy to discriminate between different parts of the sentence expressed by prepositional phrases.

The following parts of the sentence are apt to be confused: (l) _a prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier; (2) an attribute and an adverbial modifier.

1. A prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier of place
and manner.

Kate removed her eyes from the window and gazed directly at Papa. (Cronin)

Decimus had been born in Rome. (Douglas)

In the first example the prepositional phrase at Papa is a preposi­tional indirect object as the noun denotes a living being.