Part 94 (1/2)
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_
VERBS OF STATE OR CONDITION
We have found that with the incomplete verbs of state or condition, or copulative verbs, the predicate complement may be either a noun, as, _The man is a hero_; or an adjective, as, _The man is class-conscious_; or a phrase, as, _The man is in earnest_
The predicate complement may also be:
+431+ +A pronoun+; as,
Who is she?
That was he
This is I
In these sentences the subjects of the verbs are _she_, _that_ and _this_, and the pronouns _who_, _he_ and _I_ are used as predicate complements
+432+ +Infinitives may also be used as the predicate conorant is _to renorant_, is the subject of the copulative verb _is_, and the infinitive, _to remain_, with its complement, _a slave_, is the predicate complement
+433+ +A participle used as a noun may also be used as the predicate co of _, in this sentence is a participle of the verb _le_, but is used as a noun, the predicate complement of the verb _is_ _Society_ is the subject of the verb
Where the present participle is used to form a verb phrase, the participle is part of the verb phrase, thus: