| | Thus, while a command like "Come here!" might not appear to have a subject before the verb (come), it is understood that "you" is the subject of the imperative sentence. | | Thus, while a command like "Come here!" might not appear to have a subject before the verb (come), it is understood that "you" is the subject of the imperative sentence. |
| − | Some languages allow omission of the subject [[pronoun]] if it is clear from the [[verb]] form. For example, in [[Spanish]], ''Lo quiero,'' "I want it," is a complete sentence, even though the subject (''yo,'' "I") is omitted, since the verb ending makes it clear that the subject is first person singular. Such languages are called pro-drop (or pronoun-dropping) languages.<ref>[http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Pro-drop_language Pro-drop language]</ref> | + | Some languages allow omission of the subject [[pronoun]] if it is clear from the [[verb]] form. For example, in [[Spanish]], ''Lo quiero,'' "I want it," is a complete sentence, even though the subject (''yo,'' "I") is omitted, since the verb ending makes it clear that the subject is first person singular. Such languages are called pro-drop (or pronoun-dropping) languages.<ref>[http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Pro-drop_language Pro-drop language]</ref> Some [[dialect]]s of [[English language|English]] showed some degree of pro-drop, at least in the second person singular, into the nineteenth century, as evidenced by ''[[Moby-Dick]].'' |
| | If the verb is a transitive verb in the active [[voice (grammar)|voice]], the predicate contains one or more [[noun]]s or [[pronoun]]s, which are the '''objects''' of the verb. If the verb is intransitive or is in a voice other than in the active voice, by definition there is no object. If the verb is doubly transitive, there are both a direct object (the thing on which the action is performed) and an indirect object (a person or thing that is the beneficiary of the action). Consider the following examples: | | If the verb is a transitive verb in the active [[voice (grammar)|voice]], the predicate contains one or more [[noun]]s or [[pronoun]]s, which are the '''objects''' of the verb. If the verb is intransitive or is in a voice other than in the active voice, by definition there is no object. If the verb is doubly transitive, there are both a direct object (the thing on which the action is performed) and an indirect object (a person or thing that is the beneficiary of the action). Consider the following examples: |