[Sidenote:  Subject.]

The subject is that which answers the question who or what placed before the predicate, and which at the same time names that of which the predicate says something.

[Sidenote:  The subject in interrogative and imperative simple sentences.]

341.  In the interrogative sentence, the subject is frequently after the verb.  Either the verb is the first word of the sentence, or an interrogative pronoun, adjective, or adverb that asks about the subject.  In analyzing such sentences, always reduce them to the order of a statement.  Thus,—­

(1) “When should this scientific education be commenced?”

(2) “This scientific education should be commenced when?”

(3) “What wouldst thou have a good great man obtain?”

(4) “Thou wouldst have a good great man obtain what?”

In the imperative sentence, the subject (you, thou, or ye) is in most cases omitted, and is to be supplied; as, “[You] behold her single in the field.”

Exercise.

Name the subject and the predicate in each of the following sentences:—­

1.  The shadow of the dome of pleasure
     Floated midway on the waves.

2.  Hence originated their contempt for terrestrial distinctions.

3.  Nowhere else on the Mount of Olives is there a view like this.

4.  In the sands of Africa and Arabia the camel is a sacred and precious gift.

5.  The last of all the Bards was he.

6.  Slavery they can have anywhere.

7.  Listen, on the other hand, to an ignorant man.

8.  What must have been the emotions of the Spaniards!

9.  Such was not the effect produced on the sanguine spirit of the general.

10.  What a contrast did these children of southern Europe present to the Anglo-Saxon races!

ELEMENTS OF THE SIMPLE SENTENCE.

342.  All the elements of the simple sentence are as follows:—­

(1) The subject.

(2) The predicate.

(3) The object.

(4) The complements.

(5) Modifiers.

(6) Independent elements.

The subject and predicate have been discussed.

343.  The object may be of two kinds:—­

[Sidenote:  Definitions.  Direct Object.]

(1) The DIRECT OBJECT is that word or expression which answers the question who or what placed after the verb; or the direct object names that toward which the action of the predicate is directed.

It must be remembered that any verbal may have an object; but for the present we speak of the object of the verb, and by object we mean the direct object.

[Sidenote:  Indirect object.]

(2) The INDIRECT OBJECT is a noun or its equivalent used as the modifier of a verb or verbal to name the person or thing for whose benefit an action is performed.