Realisations of Direct Object

In this essay I would like to focus on the possible realisations of a direct object. At the beginning I will try to explain what an object is. I want to make clear difference between direct and indirect objects and I will also write about some other clausal elements which influence objects.

Generally, we can distinguish five basic elements within a sentence: subject, verb, complement and object. Let’s imagine we have a sentence in which there is involved some action. If the action or event involves another person or thing which the action affects, relates to or produces, we express it by placing a nominal group referring to them directly after the verbal group (verb). This is called direct object (I-subject- don’t like- verbal group- Jack.-object realised by a nominal group). Clauses which contain a direct object are called transitive clauses. Verbs contained in these clauses which are followed by direct object are called transitive verbs. Direct object is the most frequent kind of object and if there is an indirect object in the sentence, there must be a direct object as well (but there are some exceptions from this rule). An object (both direct and indirect) can be also described as a noun phrase or clause with nominal function which follows subject and predicator (verbal group). For distinguishing objects it is necessary to know that by being made passive they assume the role of subject.

Objects can be realised by a nominal group or by finite clauses. The finite clauses can be further divided into “that” clauses and “wh-“clauses. Other way of realising objects are non- finite clauses. We distinguish two types of them: “to infinitive” clauses and “-ing” clauses.

The example of a direct object realised by a nominal group can be: The police (subject) caught (verb) the murderer (direct object). Direct objects realised by pronouns belong to this category as well. Pronoun is considered to be a nominal group. We use so called object pronouns in these sentences. Object pronouns are: me, us, you, him, her, it and them. Example of such realisation is: Jack (subject) couldn’t find (verb) them (object realised by a pronoun).

Usage of “that” clauses depends on the verb in the preceding clause. Verbs which are often followed by “that” clause can be divided into verbs of knowing and perceiving (believe, imagine, find, realise, see) - I believe that the situation will improve soon. ; verbs which refer to potential situation (hope, expect, suppose) - I hope that you don’t mind participating in the project. ; and verbs of communicating (announce, mention, mean) - It was announced that the president had died.

“Wh-“clauses which are direct objects follow verbs of different verbal or mental processes (realise, insist, ask). Within the group of “wh-“ clauses we distinguish three types. The first of them are so-called nominal relative clauses. In this case the “wh-“ clause retains the same function as nouns (nominal groups): Tom was thinking about what he had done. The second type is called indirect interrogatives- The man asked where the boy came from. Indirect exclamations are the third type of “wh-“ clause which are direct objects- She soon realised what a good luck she had had.

Direct objects can be also realised by non-finite clauses. These clauses can either have subject of their own or they can have the same subject as the main clause. There are two types of non-finite clauses: to- infinitive clauses (I would like to stay at home.) and -ing clauses (I regret saying that.).

There is also another way how an object can be realised. In this case we use anticipatory it and an extra posed subject. The structure of the sentence is following: subject, predicator, direct object and object complement. Example of such sentence can be: Peter might find it difficult (complement) for the company to get the contract. (direct object).

So-called prepositional object may belong to marginal realisations of direct