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Questions tagged [ditransitivity]

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3 answers
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Can "donate" be used as a ditransitive verb?

Are sentences like the following valid? He donated the charity five hundred dollars. She donated the children every penny she had. We donated the library a large collection of books. They won't ...
alphabet's user avatar
  • 9,851
2 votes
0 answers
70 views

Passive voice with ditransitive verb, which is the patient?

If I were to make the following constructions, how would I label the parts of the sentence using passive voice terminology? Alice seems to be the agent in both these constructions, but which is the ...
Patrick O'Brien's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
116 views

"Suggest" meaning "recommend" [closed]

Page 456 of the Collins English Usage reads When you suggest something, you mention it as a plan or idea for someone to consider. You do not 'suggest someone something': you 'suggest something to ...
GJC's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
70 views

Interjecting adverbs between indirect and direct objects in ditransitive verb phrases?

I'm currently writing a paper about a syntactic issue in English and I was curious how these sounded to everyone. Sam put carefully the coffee on the desk. Sam put the coffee carefully on the desk. ...
Jordan M.'s user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
830 views

In "You did me wrong", is "wrong" an adverb or some other part of speech instead?

Consider: You did me wrong. In that sentence, is wrong an adverb or some other part of speech? I don’t understand the syntactic construction being used here.
Flora127's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

the money given him by his uncle

The following sentence is taken from pag. 79 of The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language He quickly spent the money given him by his uncle. Is it grammatical? Would it still be so after adding ...
GJC's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
577 views

Should object phrases usually only be in the beginning or end of a sentence in English?

I was talking with a friend about an event tomorrow, and I wanted to tell him I'd text him tomorrow after the event and let him know what happened. I said, "I'll text you tomorrow what happens." I ...
BrainFRZ's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
40k views

"Provide us with X" or "provide us X"? [closed]

Does provide need the preposition with, or is it truly ditransitive? Kindly provide us with your best quotation Kindly provide us your best quotation. He provided directions. He provided ...
MOHD HAMZA's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
124 views

Can the verb 'last' ever be ditransitive?

(1) That car should last you for ten years. (2) That car should last you ten years. I think these two mean the same thing. In (1), the verb 'last' is clearly monotransitive. How about the verb 'last' ...
JK2's user avatar
  • 6,275
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Direct and indirect object with "give" and "buy"

I have been studying Longman's English grammar book, and something is really confusing me: We can put it and them after the verb: Give it to me. Buy them for me. Do it for me. With e.g. give and buy, ...
A.Cool's user avatar
  • 334
1 vote
1 answer
464 views

Is it a prepositional or a ditransitive phrase? [closed]

Prepositional phrase? I resolved not to allow frivolous preoccupations to deflect me. (I cause, not to receive frivolous preoccupations to deflect me) It had, after all, brought home to me (the ...
Mona's user avatar
  • 119
0 votes
2 answers
68 views

Do I need a "with" in the following sentence?

Usually, I know the answer. But the following sentence confuses me: Was he the man she had shared her flesh and feelings (with) for four years? Is the with necessary? Why or why not?
alex's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
124 views

Using "to start" as a ditransitive verb

In the Song I Started a Joke by The Bee Gees (I recommend watching this cover – it's amazing), the lyrics contain phrases like […] which started the whole world crying […] This seems to be non-...
akkarin's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
1 answer
637 views

What are some give-type verbs that cannot undergo straight dative alternation?

The following dative alternations sound off to me: I want to donate my clothes to charity. --> I want to donate charity my clothes. He has to submit his paper to his teacher. --> He has to ...
CDM's user avatar
  • 3,864
1 vote
3 answers
277 views

Can the verb "gain" take two complements?

Is it correct to say: The prudent guidance and innovation gained Jane and John much fame. I think that this sentence is grammatically incorrect because the verb gain cannot take two complements ...
2016pass's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
61 views

Grammaticality: 'gift ... will not be denied him' (1786 UK)

Source: p 174, The Catholic Christian Instructed in the Sacraments ..., by Richard Challoner, 1786 A. Continency is not required of all, but such as have by vow engaged to keep it: and ...
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Does "send" require a "to"? [duplicate]

Is the following grammatical? Should I send the letter to her? If it is, then how come that send can also be used without to? Should I send her the letter? What about the use of send in a ...
melany's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
7k views

Direct and Indirect Objects with the verbs: Give, Buy, and Bring

Both these phrases are correct, Give me it Buy me them so why are these sentences wrong? Give John it Buy John them In these sentences, "me/John" are both indirect ...
poorna chandra's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
11k views

Is saying "Let me show you it" totally wrong?

My kids (8-10yrs) love to say things like this. It just rolls naturally out and I correct them often. Is there is a specific reason the grammar is wrong? Maybe for the brain it is more direct than ...
John Alexiou's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
8k views

"I gave him + INDIRECT OBJECT" vs. "I gave + INDIRECT OBJECT+ to him"

Consider these two sentences: "I gave him a pencil," and, "I gave a pencil to him." Is it correct that the important part of the sentence is placed at the end? When we want to emphasize the pencil ...
박용현's user avatar
  • 799
16 votes
5 answers
400k views

Which one is more appropriate to use: "send you" or "send to you"?

Are both of the following sentences correct? Let me know if there is still something I need to send to you. Let me know if there is still something I need to send you. Which one is more appropriate ...
B Faley's user avatar
  • 4,215