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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
I gave John the keys
Why is it correct to say "I gave John the keys" but it is not correct to say "I explained Laura the problem" or "Describe me the man who ...", the only accepted form beeing "I explained the problem to Laura" and "Describe the man who ... to me"?
Top answer
That's just the way it is, I am afraid. Certain verbs can be used only in certain ways. I can tell John the problem, but I can't describe/explain John the problem.
- That's just the way it is, I am afraid.
- Certain verbs can be used only in certain ways.
- I can tell John the problem, but I can't describe/explain John the problem.
- You just have to learn which verbs pattern in which ways.
- There is, unfortunately, no logic in the system.
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1 Answers
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That's just the way it is, I am afraid.
Certain verbs can be used only in certain ways. I can tell John the problem, but I can't describe/explain John the problem. You just have to learn which verbs pattern in which ways. There is, unfortunately, no logic in the system.
Certain verbs can be used only in certain ways. I can tell John the problem, but I can't describe/explain John the problem. You just have to learn which verbs pattern in which ways. There is, unfortunately, no logic in the system.
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