The cognate object

There is a special kind of object in English which has the following peculiarities.

1. It is used with intransitive verbs though it has no preposition.

2. It is expressed by a noun which is either of the same root as the verb or is similar to it in meaning.

3. It is almost regularly attended by an attribute with which it forms a combination that is close in meaning to an adverbial modifier: to live a happy life — to live happily.

The cognate object is generally used in such combinations as: to smile a sad smile, to laugh a bitter laugh, to die a violent death, etc.

But she died a dreadful death, poor soul... (Collins)

Но она погибла ужасной смертью, бедняжка...

That night the roused forces of Good and Evil fought their terrible fight for

her soul... (Collins)

В эту ночь пробудившиеся силы Добра и Зла вели ожесточенную борьбу

за ее душу.

For the next four days he lived a simple and blameless life on thin captain’s

biscuits. (Jerome)

В течение последующих четырех дней он жил простой непорочной

жизнью и питался постными капитанскими сухарями.

THE ATTRIBUTE

§ 29. The attribute is a secondary part of the sentence which qualifies a noun, a pronoun, or any other part of speech that has anominal character.

An attribute can be either in pre-position or in post-position to the word it modifies.

What did she do with herself... in that little hole? (Galsworthy)

Under a tree opposite Knightsbridge Barracks... he took out once more the

morocco, case. (Galsworthy)

As a result of the loss of inflexions, the attribute in English, as distinct from Russian, does not agree with the word it modifies in number, case, or gender. It may be expressed by almost any part of speech.