III. The Objective.

III. The Objective.

[Sidenote: _The old_ dative _case._]

89. In Old English there was one case which survives in use, but not in form. In such a sentence as this one from Thackeray, "Pick _me_ out a whip-cord thong with some dainty knots in it," the word _me_ is evidently not the direct object of the verb, but expresses _for whom_, _for whose benefit_, the thing is done. In pronouns, this dative use, as it is called, was marked by a separate case.

[Sidenote: _Now the objective._]

In Modern English the same _use_ is frequently seen, but the _form_ is the same as the objective. For this reason a word thus used is called a dative-objective.

The following are examples of the dative-objective:--

Give _me_ neither poverty nor riches.--_Bible._

Curse _me_ this people.--_Id._

Both joined in making _him_ a present.--MACAULAY

Is it not enough that you have _burnt me_ down three houses with your dog's tricks, and be hanged to you!--LAMB

I give _thee_ this to wear at the collar.--SCOTT

[Sidenote: _Other uses of the objective._]