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Kenkenken9876 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Difference between SVO and SVOO
(a) SVO: Tom sent a book to John.
(b) SVOO: Tom sent John a book.
Does these two sentences means the same fact or is there any difference between them?
My understanding:
Sentence A refers to the fact the "Tom sent a book" and that the destination of the book was John.
So, this does not necessarily means that John successfully received the book Tom sent: while Sentence B always means that John actually received that book.
If so, the same kind of difference can be found below?
(c) SVO: Tom bought a book for John. (but the book was not delived to John)
(d) SVOO: Tom bought John a book. (so, John actually received the book)
What about below?
(e) SVO: Tom gave a book to John.
(f) SVOO: Tom gave John a book.
(g) A book was sent to John by Tom.
(h) A book was sent John by Tom.
Thank you in advance.
(b) SVOO: Tom sent John a book.
Does these two sentences means the same fact or is there any difference between them?
My understanding:
Sentence A refers to the fact the "Tom sent a book" and that the destination of the book was John.
So, this does not necessarily means that John successfully received the book Tom sent: while Sentence B always means that John actually received that book.
If so, the same kind of difference can be found below?
(c) SVO: Tom bought a book for John. (but the book was not delived to John)
(d) SVOO: Tom bought John a book. (so, John actually received the book)
What about below?
(e) SVO: Tom gave a book to John.
(f) SVOO: Tom gave John a book.
(g) A book was sent to John by Tom.
(h) A book was sent John by Tom.
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
kenkenken9876 (a) SVO: Tom sent a book to John. (b) SVOO: Tom sent John a book. Same meaning.
- kenkenken9876 (a) SVO: Tom sent a book to John.
- (b) SVOO: Tom sent John a book.
- Same meaning.
- Without further context, there is no way to know for sure that John received the book.
- ( Tom sent a book to John, but it got lost in the mail.
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2 Answers
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kenkenken9876(a) SVO: Tom sent a book to John.Same meaning. Without further context, there is no way to know for sure that John received the book. (Tom sent a book to John, but it got lost in the mail.) However, the default interpretation is that he received the book.
(b) SVOO: Tom sent John a book.
kenkenken9876(c) S
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