331. In the sentence, “I want my friends to believe in me,” we find the verb to be want. If we ask the question want what? the answer is the group of words my friends to believe in me; hence we are sure that this group of words is the object.

But this object is different from any group of words that we have studied hitherto. It does not consist of a base word and modifiers, but instead it consists of two parts that are equally important. These are my friends and the infinitive phrase to believe in me. The phrase is not a modifier of friends, but has the logical relation of predicate to friends, as may be proved by changing the whole group of words to a noun clause, that my friends should believe in me.

When the object of a verb consists of two parts, a noun element and an infinitive, having to each other the logical relation of subject and predicate, we call the whole group a double object.

332. Although the relation between the two parts of a double object is logically that of subject and predicate, still this relation is not grammatically expressed. A double object does not make sense standing alone, and we cannot speak of the infinitive in a double object as a predicate, for an infinitive cannot assert. It is customary, however, to speak of the noun element in a double object as the subject of the infinitive. The subject of an infinitive is always in the objective case, as may be plainly seen by substituting a pronoun for the noun used as subject. In the sentence quoted, the pronoun that might take the place of my friends is the objective pronoun them.

333. An infinitive in -ing is often used as part of a double object; as, “I hear their voices ringing in merry childish glee,” “I can see his gallant figure coming down the road.”

334. Notice that a double object is not two objects of equal rank, as in the sentence, “I want peace and quiet;” but is one object consisting of two equal parts so closely related, that neither of these parts could be the object if used without the other.

335. When the infinitive with to is used after the verbs hear and see, as well as after feel, let, make, the to of the infinitive is omitted; as, “Did you hear me (to) rap at your door?” “Let us (to) be true to one another,” “The mosquitoes made us (to) go indoors.”

Find and explain the double objects in each of these three sentences.

336. When a sentence containing a double object is changed to the passive voice, the noun element of the double object becomes the subject of the passive verb, and the infinitive phrase becomes the subjective complement of the verb. Change this sentence to the passive voice and explain the change, “We expected John to decorate the banquet room.”

337. We have seen that the infinitive may be used as the complement of a verb in several ways: it may be the direct object of a verb, or the subjective complement, or part of a double object. There is another very common relation of the infinitive to a verb, as shown in the sentence, “Some persons live to eat.” The infinitive to eat is in the predicate, but it is not an object of the verb live, neither is it a subjective complement. How do we know this? As the infinitive answers the question for what purpose? we conclude that it is a modifier of the verb live. Furthermore, it could be expanded into the adverbial clause of purpose, that they may eat.

The infinitive denoting purpose is very common, as seen in the familiar sentences: “We go to school to learn,” “We stood up to see,” “I sat down to rest.”

Summary.—An infinitive phrase and a noun, having the logical relation of subject and predicate, may form the double object of some transitive verbs.

An infinitive phrase denoting the purpose of an action may be used to modify a verb.

Exercise 1.—Write sentences containing double objects of the verbs cause, desire, expect, feel, hear, let, make, order, see, wish.

Explain why there are no double objects in these sentences:—

1. They could get no water to drink.

2. He has an ax to grind.

3. We found plenty to eat.

4. She bought a rose to wear.

5. I made a cake to sell.

Exercise 2.—Explain the use of all infinitive phrases in these sentences. Classify the infinitives.

1. The boy made up his mind that he would take two of the whelps home with him to be brought up in the ways of civilization.

2.

In happy homes he saw the light

Of household fires gleam warm and bright.

3. More rarely a fox or a hyena quickened his gallop to study the intruder at a safe distance.

4. When the car stopped and I looked up at the window with the pink geranium, I saw mother waiting to welcome me.

5. The whole family went to the station to see us off.

6. I do not quite know what caused me to lift my head from the friendly shelter of the blanket.

7. He felt his swift craft quiver with life beneath him in response to the rhythmic stroke of the oarsmen.

8. Jupiter bustled about to prepare some marsh hens for supper.

9. To keep the artillery dry, we stuffed wads of loose hemp into the muzzles, and fitted wooden pegs to the touch holes.

10. Down the elm-bordered road we two walked toward the sunset, and watched the mists rising ghostlike from the fields.

11. Mowgli heard the sound rumble, and rise, and fall, and die off in a creepy sort of whine behind him.

12. At recess the next noon the Centipedes met in a corner of the schoolyard to talk over the proposed lark.

13. Our Heavenly Father himself has planted that pea, and made it grow and blossom to bring joy to you and hope to me, my blessed child.

14. Nearly all the finest diamonds in the world are brought to Amsterdam to be cut into shape.

15. It was Long Tom who taught Harvey to shoot at a mark with a revolver.

16. He’s gone to fight the French for King George upon his throne.

17. We heard the meadow larks singing their wistful songs, but always instead of the black hearts upon their yellow breasts they showed us just the two white feathers in their tails.

Change sentences 2, 4, 10, 11, 13, 17 to the passive voice, and explain the change in the use of the infinitive.