A Grammar of the English Language. Грамматика английского языка. A grammar of the english language
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§ 5. Position of the object. The usual position of the object in declarative sentences is after the predicate (see Chapter XV, § 26). However, in exclamatory sentences the direct object may occupy the first place. What wonderfully blue eyes you have, Ernest! (Wilde) This position of the object generally does not cause inversion, except in poetry, high prose, and negative exclamatory sentences. Thee would I spare — nay more — would save thee now! (Byron) Passage after passage did he explore,room after room did he peep into! (Dickens) In declarative sentences the front position of the object serves the purpose of emphasis. In Russian this position of the object is common (e. g. Волейболом он увлекался в юности, а теперь играет только в теннис); in English it occurs but seldom. A fearful voyage I had with such a monster in the vessel. (Ch. Bronte) Honey she had in plenty out of her own hives. (Hardy) As a rule this prominent position of the object causes no inversion except when the object is expressed by word-groups with not a.., or many a... (see § 4, 5). The direct object acquires some prominence when it is separated from the predicate by some secondary part of the sentence — generally an adverbial modifier or a prepositional indirect object. We may call this the back position of the object. She produced from her pocket a most housewifely bunch of keys. (Ch. Bronte) I had at heart a strange and anxious thought. (Ch. Bronte) Cowperwood smiled as he saw in the morning papers the announcement of the passage of each ordinance granting him a franchise. (Dreiser) As is seen from the above examples this occurs when the object has an attribute. The front position of the indirect object in declarative sentences is rare. The prepositional indirect object is more common in this position, especially in colloquial English. Of his love he would tell her nothing. (Voynich) To Martin the future did not seem so dim. Success trembled just before him. (London) Sometimes the front position of the prepositional indirect object causes inversion. To this circumstance may be attributed the fact that none of the letters reached my hand. (Dickens) § 6. Position of the attribute. I. The usual place of the attribute expressed by an adjective, noun, pronoun, or participle is before the word it modifies. What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to a woman! (Wilde) With most of such attributes the order in which they follow each other is generally free, i. e. it can be easily changed. Amelia Sedley had such a kindly, smiling, tender, generous heart of her own as won the love of everybody who came near her. (Thackeray) However, with some attributes the order in which they follow each other is more or less fixed. Attributes denoting age, colour, material, and nationality come next to the noun modified. Rawdon preferred the quiet little Belgian city to either of the more noisy capitals. (Thackeray). Two years of married life had not lengthened her short dark chestnut hair. (Galsworthy) When two or more attributes denoting age, colour, material, and nationality refer to the same noun the order is as follows:
E. g. 3 2 3 1 She had brought her a bright yellow spotted silk blouse and a purple Angora sweater. (M. Dickens) It is interesting to note that the adjective little often corresponds to Russian diminutive suffixes in such words as паренек, братишка,ручка, комнатка. In this case as well as when little denotes age, it is placed immediately before the noun unless there are attributes denoting colour or nationality. He was naked and painted blue and yellow in stripes — a jolly little chap. (Galsworthy) He was a little like Jolly, but eager-looking and less formal... altogether a very interesting little brother. (Galsworthy) B u t: Mrs. Inchbare’s unloveable hair clung fast round her head in wiry little yellow curls. (Collins) A fortnight after it took place, he asked her where was her little French watch and chain she used to wear. (Thackeray) II. Post-position of the attribute. There are some cases when the post-position of the attribute is its normal place, i. e. when it is not emphatic. 1. Most adjectives in ‑able and ‑ible are generally placed after the noun, especially when the noun is preceded by the adjective only or an adjective in the superlative degree: sufferings unspeakable, the only person visible, with all the solemnity possible, the most interesting thing imaginable. However, a few adjectives with the same suffixes stand before the noun they modify. He is the only reasonable man here. She is a sensible little girl. 2. In some stock phrases the adjective is placed after the noun: wealth untold — несметные богатства from times immemorial — с незапамятных времен a poet laureate — поэт-лауреат generations unborn — грядущие поколения court martial — военно-полевой суд sum total — общая сумма four years running — четыре года подряд the first person singular — первое лицо единственного числа the second person plural — второе лицо множественного числа 3. The adjectives proper (собственно, как таковой) and present (присутствующий) are placed after the noun. We shan’t find anything about sculpture in this book, it deals with architecture proper. В этой книге мы не найдем ничего о скульптуре, она посвящена архитектуре как таковой. All the people present welcomed Paul Robeson enthusiastically. Все присутствующие восторженно приветствовали Поля Робсона. These meanings of proper and present are not to be confused with the meanings of proper and present when used in pre-position, e. g.: This is not a proper answer to a question of this kind. Our present task is to preserve peace in the world. 4. Attributes expressed by cardinal numerals denoting the place of the object in a series always follow the noun modified. No article is used in this case: page ten, tram number six, room two. 5. Adjectives stand after indefinite and negative pronouns. I’d like to read something very interesting. There is nothing extraordinary in her dress. I’d like to speak with somebody very clever on the subject. 6. Attributes expressed by prepositional phrases follow the noun modified. As a gesture of proud defiance he had named his son Francis Nicholas. (Cronin) Besides the cases when the post-position of the attribute is its normal (unemphatic) place, there are a few instances when the postposition of an attribute expressed by an adjective serves the purpose of emphasis. It was with a conscience uneasy that Edwin shut the front door one night a month later. (Bennett) In this example we can easily put the attribute before the word modified, but then it will not be prominent. Whereas the post-position of a single adjective is rather rare, two or more adjectives are often placed after the word modified for the sake of emphasis: these adjectives may or may not be joined by a conjunction. He gave Annette a look furtive and searching. (Galsworthy) (“He gave Annette a furtive and searching look” would sound less emphatic.) All sorts of fancies bright and dark tenanted my mind. (Ch. Bronte) When two or more attributive adjectives are placed in postposition, their connection with the noun they modify is often loose, i. e. they become detached and are consequently separated by a comma. When I looked up... there stood the widow, pale, grave, and amazed. (Ch. Bronte) The boy inherited his own eyes, large, brilliant and black. (E. Bronte) When an attribute expressed by an adjective modifies a proper noun or a personal pronoun, it mostly stands in loose connection to it whether it is placed in pre-position or in post-position. Clare, restless, went out into the dusk. (Hardy) Pale and constrained, he walked into the room and took his seat at the window. (Cronin) § 7. Position of adverbial modifiers. An adverbial modifier hardly ever separates the direct object from the predicate. It stands either before the predicate or after the direct object. Helen heard me patiently to the end. (Ch. Bronte) We could also very well say: “Helen patiently heard me to the end,” but no other position of the adverbial modifier is possible here, unless it is meant to be emphatic; in this case it is placed at the beginning of the sentence. However, an adverbial modifier separates the direct object from its verb when the object has an attribute (see § 5). He knew instinctively the principles of “pyramiding” and “kiting”. (Dreiser) He could read English but he saw there an alien speech. (London) 1. An adverbial modifier of time is generally placed either at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. On Tuesday night the new laundrymen arrived, and the rest of the week was spent breaking them into the routine. (London) Probably we shall try tomorrow. (Heym) Adverbial modifiers expressed by the adverbs now and then can be placed in nearly any position. Tess then remembered that there would have been time for this. (Hardy) Indeed, anything untoward was now sedulously kept from James (Galsworthy) We now slowly ascended a drive and came upon the long front of a house. (Ch. Bronte) N o t e. — The hour is generally mentioned before a more general adverbial modifier of time such as day, night, evening, morning. At nine in the evening Badly White... opened the door to the room and poked his head in. (Maltг) 2. An adverbial modifier of place generally stands either at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. Down in the mill yard a Bessemer furnace was blowing flame into the sky. (Maltz) Geodin led the guests into the parlour. (O. Henry) There it was all spiritual. Here it was all material and meanly material. (London) ...a library was a most likely place for her, and he might see her there. (London) However, an adverbial modifier of place sometimes comes between the predicate and the prepositional object. He emerged from the theatre with the first of the crowd. (London) Adverbial modifiers of place generally precede those of time and purpose: I am going to the country to-morrow. Well, they only kept up there about an hour but that was sure a long time. (Maltz) Sybil had gone to town to buy a new carpet for the first floor landing. (M. Dickens) 3. The place of the adverbial modifier of frequency is more fixed than that of other adverbial modifiers which enjoy a certain freedom of position. As a rule they precede the predicate verb in a simple tense form but follow the verb to be and all the modal verbs. In a compound tense form they follow the first auxiliary. No one ever loved me. (London) Lily would complain that she always told Jane everything she knew. (Herbert) She was always on the point of telling him the truth. However, when they are emphasized they stand before the verb to be. You were awfully good about being pushed up here, but then you always are good about the things that happen to you. (M. Dickens) As for Charlie, he needed frequently to have a confidant. (S. Lewis) Don’t go worrying about what may never happen. He can never leave out an irreligious finale. (Lindsay) I’d just love to come, but Francis and I can’t ever be away together. (Galsworthy) Take your hands away, Huckleberry; what a mess you are always making. (Twain) She cared for Ailen more than she had ever cared for any of her children. (M. Dickens) “I never heard of such a thing!” she exclaimed. It will never be Frank! It can’t be! (Dreiser) However, sometimes and generally may be placed either before or after the verb. For he sometimes thought that, unless he proclaimed to the world what had happened to him, he would never again feel quite in possession of his soul. (Galsworthy) And I got so lonely here sometimes. (Dreiser) In interrogative sentences adverbial modifiers of frequency come immediately after the subject. Did you ever have shoes like that? (Abrahams) Does he often come to see you? Adverbial modifiers of frequency sometimes occupy the first place. This position generally does not cause inversion. Often he had asked her to come and pass judgement on his junk. (Galsworthy) Occasionally a small band of people followed the preachers to their mission. (Dreiser) (For the emphatic position of the adverbial modifier never see § 4, 1b.) 4. The most frequent position of an adverbial modifier of manner is after the predicate if the verb is intransitive, and after the direct object if the verb is transitive. “You needn’t worry about me,” Louise said stoutly. (M. Dickens) Cokane shakes hands effusively with Sartorius. (Shaw) An adverbial modifier of manner generally stands between the predicate-verb and the prepositional indirect object though it is also found after the object. She leaned lightly against his shoulder. (London) Gwendolen... though I asked most distinctly for bread and butter, you have given me cake. (Wilde) Very often, however, an adverbial modifier of manner expressed by an adverb stands immediately before the predicate. ...Bessie was already gone, and had closed the nursery door upon me. I slowly descended. (Ch. Bronte) Then it occurred to him that with this letter she was entering that very state which he himself so earnestly desired to quit. (Galsworthy) In compound tense forms an adverbial modifier of manner expressed by an adverb generally comes after the last auxiliary. These ladies were deferentially received by Miss Temple. (Ch. Bronte) Mr. Ernest has been suddenly called back to town. (Wilde) (For the emphatic position of adverbial modifiers of manner see § 4, 1d.) 5. Adverbial modifiers of degree always precede the predicate; if the verb is in a compound tense-form they follow the first auxiliary. I entirely agree with you. He has quite forgotten about the concert. 6. An adverbial modifier of degree expressed by the adverb enough generally follows the adjective it modifies, but may follow or precede a noun. He is clever enough but very lazy. When enough modifies a noun it may either follow or precede it. I have time enough to do it. I have enough time to do it. ADDITIONAL REMARKS It should be borne in mind that whereas in Russian the word пожалуйстаmay occupy any position, in English the word please can either begin the sentence or finish it. Thus in Russian we can say: Пожалуйста, принесите мне книгу. Принесите, пожалуйста, мне книгу. Принесите мне, пожалуйста, книгу. Принесите мне книгу, пожалуйста. In English we can only say: Please, bring me the book. Bring me the book, please. Chapter XVII THE COMPOUND SENTENCE AND THE COMPLEX SENTENCE THE COMPOUND SENTENCE |