Thus, in “Dick sold John his bicycle,” John is an adverbial modifier of the predicate verb sold.
The indirect object is sometimes used without a direct object expressed. Thus,—
He paid the hatter.
Here hatter may be recognized as an indirect object by inserting to before it and adding a direct object (“his bill,” “his money,” or the like).
106. The objective case sometimes expresses the person for whom anything is done.
- William made his brother a kite [= made a kite for his brother].
- Sampson built me a boat [= built a boat for me].
This construction may be called the objective of service.
Note. The objective of service is often included under the head of the indirect object. But the two constructions differ widely in sense, and should be carefully distinguished. To do an act to a person is not the same thing as to do an act for a person. Contrast “John paid the money to me,” with “John paid the money for me”; “Dick sold a bicycle to me,” with “Dick sold a bicycle for me.”
107. The objective case is used after like, unlike, near, and next, which are really adjectives or adverbs, though in this construction they are often regarded as prepositions.
- She sang like a bird. [Like is an adverb.]
- The earth is like a ball. [Like is an adjective.]
- My office is near the station. [Near is an adjective.]
- That answer was unlike Joseph. [Unlike is an adjective.]
- This man walks unlike Joseph. [Unlike is an adverb.]
- A stream ran near the hut. [Near is an adverb.]