However, they had to protect the shipping lanes in order to get their treasure home, and this meant keeping hold of as much of the Caribbean (or the  Spanish Main,  as it was then known) as possible.
Shipping lanes needed protection from piracy.
Shipping lanes had no protection and never will.
A dog is sleeping on the couch.
The people turn off the street lights.
The ground on aa very hot day.
The boys are running a race.
Naked men are streaking across the park.
Two guys are playing baseball.