Understanding Ditransitive Complementation
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9sanja.ivanovic8Understanding Ditransitive Complementation
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Powered by AIVerbs introducing indirect statements, such as 'convince' and 'assure,' often take a pattern where an indirect object is followed by a that-clause, like 'John convinced me that he was right,' focusing on the statement being reported or confirmed . In contrast, verbs used for indirect directives, such as 'charge' or 'instruct,' frequently employ a to-infinitive clause, emphasizing the action to be performed, as in 'I told Mark to see a doctor' . The syntactic difference lies in the presence and handling of clauses: indirect statements contain that-clauses with indicative verbs, whereas indirect directives may include either indicative or subjunctive verbs, often involving modal verbs to reflect potentiality or advice . The indirect directive is less common and more formal, further distinguished by the option of using a subjunctive mood .
Using a 'that-clause' as a direct object with ditransitive verbs is constrained by grammatical rules that only allow the 'first' passive construction. With such verbs, like 'convince' (e.g., 'John convinced me that he was right'), converting to a second passive by making the that-clause the subject is ungrammatical ('*That he was right was convinced by me'). The first passive form ('I was convinced that he was right') is thus the only grammatical option. Moreover, many verbs require the presence of the indirect object, as deleting it ('*John convinced that he was right') results in ungrammatical constructs .
The choice between using a prepositional object and a direct object with verbs like 'show' often depends on the emphasis and clarity needed in the sentence. Prepositional objects are used to add additional information or modify the straightforwardness of the object’s presentation, as in 'The professor showed to me that Pythagoras was mistaken,' placing a focus on the act of showing to a particular person . Direct object usage ('The professor showed that Pythagoras was mistaken') presents the information more directly and is more common when the recipient of the message is implied or not crucially emphasized .
Some verb-preposition combinations, like 'admit to,' are less acceptable without the extraposition of the that-clause due to constraints on natural information flow and clarity. These combinations, such as 'That several ministers are resigning has been admitted to our correspondent,' become more standard when the that-clause is extraposed ('It has been admitted to our correspondent that several ministers are resigning'), thereby localizing the clause at the sentence's end . This positioning aligns with syntactic and semantic expectations, ensuring the initial noun phrase is succinct while embedding the extraposed clause naturally into the sentence .
The presence of a prepositional phrase with a ditransitive verb often limits passive constructions to the 'first' passive form. When a ditransitive verb takes a prepositional object, the construction typically defaults to the first passive, with the indirect object as the subject of the passive sentence ('Our remarks were addressed to the children'), while maintaining the prepositional phrase . The second passive, where the direct object becomes the subject, is not possible or is very uncommon ('*The children were addressed our remarks (to)'). This pattern is due to the natural grammatical structure and emphasis associated with prepositional object inclusion .
Reflexive verbs with prepositional objects, such as 'We pride ourselves on the service we offer,' illustrate a blend between reflexivity and object orientation by combining internal actions with external modifiers . Here, the reflexive pronoun ('ourselves') refers back to the subject, emphasizing self-directed actions, while the prepositional object ('on the service we offer') modifies or expands on the action, providing context or motivation. This duality allows the expression of actions that involve both self-reflection and engagement with an external factor in linguistic constructions, highlighting complexity in subject-object relationships and the layering of meaning .
Focus and end-weight critically influence the positioning of objects in sentences with ditransitive verbs. In typical syntactic ordering, the indirect object precedes the direct object ('The government supplied the homeless with blankets'). However, when end-focus is prioritized, the weighty element, usually the direct object, is deferred to the end to emphasize it, as in 'John offered to Mary the help that she needed,' where the complex noun phrase provides more information or carries more semantic load and is thereby postponed . This manipulation enhances clarity and emphasizes the intended element, conforming to the reader or listener's expectation of receiving new, important information towards the sentence’s end .
Prepositional verbs demonstrate complexity in their syntactic structure through their ability to form multiple object arrangements and idiomatic expressions. Some prepositional verbs require both direct and prepositional objects, such as in 'We are paying $100 to the garage for the repairs,' showing a double prepositional object . Reflexive verbs also often occur with a prepositional object, such as 'We pride ourselves on the service we offer,' where the prepositional phrase provides additional context or specifies the content of the reflexive action . Additionally, idiomatic combinations, such as 'catch sight of' and 'make allowance for,' create cohesive verb-preposition units that add layers of meaning .
Ditransitive verbs typically allow for two types of passive constructions, referred to as 'first' and 'second' passives. The 'first' passive makes the indirect object the subject of the sentence, such as in 'The girl was given a doll.' This form is more common as it aligns with more frequent sentence patterns and semantic prominence, where the animate indirect object is emphasized . The 'second' passive, where the direct object becomes the subject as in 'A doll was given the girl,' is less common and less preferred . Additionally, the prepositional paraphrase ('A doll was given to the girl') is often used instead of the second passive, due to its clarity and alignment with standard grammatical expectations .
Idiomatic expressions involving verbs and prepositions, such as 'make allowance for' and 'take account of,' challenge standard passive constructions due to their fixed, cohesive meanings that become disrupted when rearranged. For instance, while 'allowance' in 'Some allowance was made for loss of earnings' can become the subject, maintaining the idiomatic integrity in passive construction , other expressions like 'catch sight of' resist passive transformation because the verb-preposition union forms a single conceptual unit . The transformation often sacrifices the idiomatic clarity and intended meaning, which is why some idiomatic passive forms are grammatically difficult or ungrammatical .