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Ukraine flagVlad
Question about structure of English. Hi friends! I have a question for people who know english grammar very well. If English is SVO language, so: I + am + man S + V + O But, if we say: I + am + good. Is good a object? i think not. So, where is an object? Is it right to count, that object in this sample is hidden and "good" as description of hidden object shows us, that object here, but just it is hidden? Somethig like: I + am + good (man). Where "man" is hidden object. Or maybe would be right to count, that object is not hidden and subject simultaneously is object too? Something like: I + am + goog (I). What is right? Or maybe all that is wrong?

Answers · 14

2
Paul is correct that the article "a" is required for your first two sentences. In "I am good", "good" is a predicate adjective, not an object. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams2/one_pager1.htm
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There is no object at all in these sentences. 'Be' is a linking verb, and it isn't followed by an object. 'I' am the subject. The noun phrase 'a man' and the adjective 'good' are subject complements, not objects.
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I'm a bit confused but I just want to say that 'I am man' and 'I am good man' are not correct. It should be 'I am a man' and 'I am a good man'.
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The mistake here is thinking that all verbs are the same. If there's any verb that repeatedly breaks rules, it's "to be"! There is a set of verbs called "linking verbs" - "to be" is not the only one. These can be followed by adjectives. http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/linkingverb.htm To answer your question, "good" is not an object. You're looking for an object which isn't there, and doesn't need to be there. The SVO pattern doesn't apply here.
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My understanding is that the verb "to be" is intransitive, i.e. it does not take an object. "Good" is simply an adjective, not an object. The sentence "I am good" is not short for "I am a good man". Have a look at this British Council web page: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/clause-phrase-and-sentence/verb-patterns/intransitive-verbs

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