Dictate to

Question

Hi,There is a sentence (from a dictionary): "No one is going to dictate to me where to live". There is a note that the phrasal verb "dictate to" is transitive with two objects: an indirect object "me" and a direct one "where to live".My question is: can the phrase "where to live" substitute the wh-clause (a noun clause doing the job of the object) as a direct object? Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

My question is: can the phrase "where to live" substitute the wh-clause (a noun clause doing the job of the object) as a direct object?-- Yes, it can.

There is a note that the phrasal verb "dictate to" is transitive with two objects: an indirect object "me" and a direct one "where to live".-- This is not correct, since it is not a phrasal verb. 'To me' is a prepositional phrase; it is an alternative structure to the indirect object. Here is a verb with two objects: 'No one can tell me where to live.'

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, MM, for your reply.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English qualifies the verb as a phrasal one:

"dictate to sbdy. phr v [T usu. in negatives ] to give orders to, esp. with an unreasonable show of power: I refuse to be dictated to! [+wh ] We can't dictate to them how they should spend their money."

Mister Micawber · Answer

Interesting, but I think it's too broad a definition of 'phrasal verb'; I'll have to check.  I'll get back to you.

Mister Micawber · Answer

OK, I'd call it a prepositional verb, not a phrasal verb. Here are some of the tests (taken from Quirk, et al):

1-- An adverb can usually be inserted between verb and particle in a prepositional verb but not in a phrasal verb.

We can't dictate harshly to them how they should spend their money. (Cf a phrasal verb: (X) He turned harshly on the lights.)

2-- The particle of a phrasal verb cannot precede a relative pronoun at the beginning of a relative clause:

(X) We can't dictate to who should spend their money."

3-- When the noun phrase following the verb is a personal pronoun, the pronoun precedes the particle of a phrasal verb but follows the particle of a prepositional verb:

(X) We can't dictate them to about how they should spend their money." (Cf. Phrasal: He turned them on.)

4-- The particle of a phrasal verb is normally stressed and in final position bears the nuclear tone:

I refuse to be DICtated to! We can't DICtate to them how they should spend their money." (Cf Phrasal: He turned them ON. He turned ON the lights.)

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, MM, for your useful reply.

Dictate to

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