THE OBJECT OF THE VERB

427. Words used as objects of a verb are practically the same as those which may be used for its subject.

We may have a noun used as the object of the verb. For example:

Hail destroyed the crops.
The banks rob the farmers.
We must educate the children.
Labor produces all wealth.

In these sentences, crops, farmers, children and wealth are nouns used as the object of the verb.

A pronoun may also be used as the object of a verb. For example:

Will you not teach me?
Send them to her.
They have invited us.
The comrades will remember him.

In the above sentences, me, them, us and him are the objects of the verbs, will teach, send, have invited and will remember.

Remember that in pronouns we have a different form for the object form, as, me, her, him, us and them.

428. An infinitive may also be used as the object of a verb, thus:

I like to study.
He asked to go.
I want to learn all that I can.

In this last sentence, the infinitive, to learn, is the direct object of the verb want. The object of the infinitive, to learn, is all that I can. All of this taken together with the verb want, forms the complete predicate, want to learn all that I can.

429. The participle may also be used as the object of a verb, thus:

We heard the thundering of the cannon.
We enjoyed the dancing.
Do you hear the singing of the birds?

In these sentences, the participles thundering, dancing, and singing are the objects of the verbs heard, enjoyed and do hear.

430. An adjective used as a noun may also be used as the object of a verb, thus:

I saw the rich and the poor struggling together.
The struggle for existence crushes the weak.
Seek the good and the true.

In these sentences the adjectives rich, poor, weak, good and true, are used as nouns and are the objects of the verbs saw, crushes and seek.