NOUNS AS ADVERB MODIFIERS.
The following uses of nouns and pronouns, not found in the preceding
Lessons, may be introduced in a review course.
1. He gave John a book. 2. He bought me a book.
John and me, as here used, are generally called Indirect Objects. The "indirect object" names the one to or for whom something is done. We treat these words as phrase modifiers without the preposition. If we change the order, the preposition must be supplied; as, "He gave a book to John;" "He bought a book for me."
Nouns denoting measure, quantity, weight, time, value, distance, or direction may be used adverbially, being equivalent to phrase modifiers without the preposition; as,
1. We walked four miles an hour. 2. It weighs one pound. 3. It is worth a dollar. 4. The wall is ten feet, six inches high. 5. I went home that way.
The following diagram will illustrate both the "indirect object" and the "noun of measure:"—
They offered Caesar the crown three times.
They | offered | crown
=======|====================
| \ \ \the
\ \ times
\ \———
\ \three
\ Caesar
\———
+Explanation+.—Caesar (the "indirect object") and times (denoting measure) stand in the diagram on lines representing the principal words of prepositional phrases.