4.3.

4 Identify and Classify Types of Complements

Text is from Guy de Maupassant, The Necklace Key: Subjects are underlined, finite verbs and verb phrases are bold, complements are between [square brackets], complement types indicated (PN) (PA) (DO) and (IO), prepositional phrases are between {curly brackets}. Text * between stars * is not in the original, but understood to be there. Mathilde suffered (zero) ceaselessly, feeling herself born to enjoy all delicacies and all luxuries. She was distressed (zero) {at the poverty} {of her dwelling}, {at the bareness} {of the walls}, {at the shabby chairs}, the ugliness {of the curtains}. All those things, {of which} another woman {of her rank} would never even have been [conscious] (PA), *all those things* tortured [her] (DO) and made [her] (DO) angry. The sight {of the little Breton peasant} who did her humble [housework] (DO) aroused {in her} despairing [regrets] (DO) and bewildering [dreams] (DO). She thought of [1] silent [antechambers] (DO) hung {with Oriental tapestry}, illumined {by tall bronze candelabra}, and *she thought* of two great [footmen] (DO) {in knee breeches} who sleep (zero) {in the big armchairs}, made drowsy {by the oppressive heat} {of the stove}. She thought of long reception [halls] (DO) hung {with ancient silk}, {of the dainty cabinets} containing priceless curiosities and *she thought* of the little coquettish perfumed reception [rooms] (DO) made {for chatting} {at five o'clock} {with intimate friends}, {with men famous and sought after}, [whom] (DO) all women envy and whose [attention] (DO) they all desire. ... "[There] (PN)," said he, "there is [something] (PN) {for you}." She tore the [paper] (DO) quickly and drew out a printed [card] (PN) which

bore these [words] (DO): "The Minister {of Public Instruction} and Madame Georges Ramponneau request the [honor] (DO) {of M. and Madame Loisel's company} {at the palace} {of the Ministry} {on Monday evening}, January 18th." Instead {of being delighted}, as her husband had hoped (zero), she threw the [invitation] (DO) {on the table} crossly, muttering: "What do you wish [me] (DO) to do {with that}?" "Why, my dear, I thought (zero) you would be [glad] (PA). You never go out (zero), and this is such a fine [opportunity] (PN). I had great [trouble] (DO) to get it. Every one wants [to go] (DO); it is very [select] (PA), and they are not giving many [invitations] (DO) {to clerks}. The whole official world will be [there] (PN)." She looked (zero) {at him} {with an irritated glance} and *she* said (zero) impatiently: "And what do you wish [me] (DO) to put {on my back}?" He had not thought of [that] (DO). He stammered: (zero) "Why, *you can wear* the [gown] (DO) *that* you go (zero) {to the theatre} {in *the gown*}. It looks very [well] (PA) {to me}." He stopped (zero), distracted, seeing that his wife was weeping (zero). Two great tears ran (zero) slowly {from the corners} {of her eyes} {toward the corners} {of her mouth}. "What's the [matter] (PN)? What's the [matter] (PN)?" he answered (zero). {By a violent effort} she conquered her [grief] (DO) and *she* replied (zero) {in a calm voice}, while she wiped her wet [cheeks] (DO): "Nothing *is the [matter] (PN)*. Only I have no [gown] (DO), and, therefore, I can't go {to this ball}. *You* Give your [card] (DO) {to some colleague} whose wife is better [equipped] (PA) than I am." He was [in despair] (PA). He resumed (zero):

"*You* Come, *you* let us see [2], Mathilde. How [much] (DO) would it cost, a suitable gown, [which] (DO) you could use {on other occasions} something very simple?" She reflected (zero) several seconds, making her calculations and wondering also what [sum] (DO) she could ask {without drawing} {on herself} an immediate refusal and a frightened exclamation {from the economical clerk}. Finally she replied (zero) hesitating: "I don't know (zero) exactly, but I think (zero) I could manage [it] (DO) {with four hundred francs}." He grew a little [pale] (PA), because he was laying aside just that [amount] (DO) to buy a gun and treat himself to a little shooting next summer {on the plain} {of Nanterre}, {with several friends} who went (zero) to shoot larks there {of a Sunday}. But he said (zero): "Very well. I will give [you] (IO) four hundred [francs] (DO). And *you* try to have[3] a pretty gown." [END OF ANALYSIS TEXT] Notes [1] The verb think carries a lot of meanings and these are different according to the preposition that follows the verb: We can think of, think through, think about, think out, think up, and think over, and then more. All of these are different than just plain think. The easier solution at this point is to consider think of as a phrasal verb. If you do not do this, then you will need to include of as part of a prepositional phrase that follows thought. She thought (of antechambers), (of footmen), (of rooms) and so on. This is also possible, but more complicated. We should usually go for the simplest explanation. [2] us is the subject of see, the infinitive phrase us see functions as the direct object of let. Well discuss this later in the course. [3] to have answers the question Try what? so the infinitive phrase to have a pretty gown functions as the direct object of try. Well discuss this later in the course. Thanks to Imad Alabdulrazzak for pointing out several errors in the original key.