Thus, in the examples above, dog is the direct object of the transitive verb struck; target is the direct object of hit,—and so on. Each of these nouns is therefore in the objective case.
The direct object is often called the object complement, or the object of the verb.
101. Intransitive verbs have no object.
- The lion roared.
- The visitor coughed gently.
- The log drifted downstream.
- We all listened intently.
Compare these sentences with those in [§ 99]. We observe that the verbs (unlike those in [§ 99]) admit no object, since their meaning is complete without the addition of any noun to denote the receiver or product of the action. “The man struck——” prompts the inquiry, “Struck whom?” But no such question is suggested by “The lion roared”; for “Roared what?” would be an absurdity.
102. The predicate nominative ([§ 88, 2]) must not be confused with the direct object. They resemble each other in two particulars: (1) both stand in the predicate, and (2) both complete the meaning of the verb. But they differ utterly in their relation to the subject of the sentence. For—
The predicate nominative describes or defines the subject. Hence both substantives denote the same person or thing.
Charles [SUBJECT] {is | was | became | was elected} captain [PREDICATE NOMINATIVE].
The direct object neither describes nor defines the subject. On the contrary, it designates that upon which the subject acts. Hence the two substantives regularly[18] denote different persons or things.
Charles [SUBJECT] {struck James [OBJECT]. | threw a stone [OBJECT]. | built a boat [OBJECT].}