Trumpets and trombones are part of our band.
In some ways this feels like part is a direct object, but it also seems like this could be an intransitive sentence.
Let's start with the verb, "are." It is always either a linking or a helping verb -- so it is intransitive. It takes a predicate noun (or nominative).
The predicate nominative is "part." It means the same as the subject, "trumpets and trombones."
Consider the examples:
I hit your nose.
The word nose is obviously the direct object of the transitive verb, "hit."
Your nose is red.
The intransitive verb, "is," links the subject and the adjective that describes it.
In order to determine whether "part" is acting as a direct object or if the sentence is intransitive, we need to examine the structure of the sentence and the function of the word "part."
First, let's identify the subject and the verb of the sentence. The subject is "trumpets and trombones," and the verb is "are."
Now, let's analyze the word "part." In this sentence, "part" can be either a noun or a verb.
If "part" is a noun, it could be the subject complement, which renames or describes the subject. In this case, the sentence would be intransitive because there is no direct object.
If "part" is a verb, then "trumpets and trombones" would be the subject, and it would require a direct object to complete the action.
To determine the role of "part" in this sentence, we need to look at how it functions in relation to the subject and the verb. In this particular sentence, "part" is a noun and acts as the subject complement. It renames or describes the subject "trumpets and trombones." Therefore, the sentence is intransitive, as there is no direct object.
In summary, the sentence "Trumpets and trombones are part of our band" is intransitive because the word "part" is acting as a noun and serves as the subject complement, describing the subject "trumpets and trombones."