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Harry1999 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Intransitive verb being used as transitive

I have a question about the verb "grate".
It is transitive as well as intransitive verb. I wonder how it's used in the dictionary intransitively with object.

v.intr.

To cause irritation or annoyance: a noise that grates on one's nerves.

Here, "on one's nerves" is an indirect object. Also, In the sentence "a noise", which is being used as a subject. But if we ask the verb "grate" - what does grate on one's nerve?

The answer is: noise. How the word "noise" functioning as it were both a subject and an object of the sentence.

You can see its meaning at http://www.thefreedictionary.com/grate.
  

Top answer

harry1999 Here, "on one's nerves" is an indirect object. No, it isn't. If the phrase read, "a noise that grates one's nerves", "nerves" would be a direct object, but we don't use "grate" that way.

— Enoon

  • harry1999 Here, "on one's nerves" is an indirect object.
  • No, it isn't.
  • If the phrase read, "a noise that grates one's nerves", "nerves" would be a direct object, but we don't use "grate" that way.
  • harry1999 How is the word "noise" functioning as if it were both a subject and an object of the sentence ?
  • It isn't.
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4 Answers
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harry1999Here, "on one's nerves" is an indirect object.
No, it isn't. If the phrase read, "a noise that grates one's nerves", "nerves" would be a direct object, but we don't use "grate" that way.
harry1999How is the word "noise" functioning as if it were both a sub
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harry1999Here, "on one's nerves" is an indirect object.
No. It is a prepositional phrase, used as an adverb.

Scratching one's nails on a chalkboard is a noise that grates on one's nerves.
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harry1999To cause irritation or annoyance: a noise that grates on one's nerves. Here, "on one's nerves" is an indirect object.
No. It's not an indirect object.
harry1999"a noise"... used as a subject.
Not necessarily. It's not used in a sentence, so we don't know if it's a subject or not.

This cat makes a noise
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harry1999"a noise", which is being used as a subject
The sequence a noise in the noun phrase a noise that grates on one’s nerves cannot function as subject or object in any context, since the subordinate clause that grates on one’s nerves is a dependent of the noun noise, just as the article a is. Thus in The car produces
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