gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones

Question

In the example:Harry was halfway toward it before he remembered what he'd promised himself about not meddling.  All the same, he'd have gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones that Snape had just left the room, and from what Harry had just heard, Snape would be walking with a new spring in his step -- Quirrell seemed to have given in at last. Can I say that-clause is the object of ‘had have gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones’(verbal phrase),and ‘twelve Sorcerer's Stones’ is the object of ‘had have gambled’?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

eipjoohad have gambled

he'd have = he would have

eipjooCan I say that-clause is the object of ‘would have gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones’(verbal phrase),and ‘twelve Sorcerer's Stones’ is the object of ‘would have gambled’?

I'm sure that you will find more than one opinion on how to parse this structure. Your interpretation is about as good as any, I suppose.

I'd say that the that-clause is a clause complement of gambled and that twelve Sorcerer's Stones is a noun phrase that takes on the role of an adverb of degree (though it might also be considered a direct object of gambled, as you say.)

I'll bet [that he's just pretending to be sick]. (Tells only what the bet is on.)
I'll bet [$20] [that he's just pretending to be sick]. (Adds how much is being bet. Says how strong the belief behind the bet is.)

There are only a few verbs that take this particular grammatical pattern.

CJ

Eipjoo · Answer

Thank you very much.

gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones

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