Second direct object

Question

This requires a clause, both a subject and verb.Is this a second direct object (it can't be an appositive since a clause isn't a subject and verb--instead, it consists of these)?Is there a name for a second direct object?Have a good day. [H]

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

English 1b3:

Until the experts answer, may I give my opinion?

(1) If we delete the word "both" for easier analysis, we get:

This requires a clause, a subject and verb.

(2) "a subject and verb" seems to me to be, indeed, an appositive.

(a) appositive = a word, phrase, or clause that identifies another word.

(3) Surely "a subject and verb" identifies "clause."

(a) clause = It is part of a sentence, and it contains a subject and verb.

(4) I don't think you can have a "second direct object."

(a) You can, of course, have a compound direct object:

(i) I eat apples and oranges.

Thank you.

P. S. Would it be easier to understand if we wrote your sentence this way:

This requires a clause (a subject and verb).

CalifJim · Answer

English 1b3it can't be an appositive since a clause isn't a subject and verb

Yes, it can be an appositive. The objective truth of a sentence does not affect its grammar. (Note: On our boating trip we saw a whale, the largest fish in the ocean.) In the mind of the writer, a clause is, for all practical purposes, a subject and a verb, and any consideration of whether this is true is irrelevant to the grammar.

I think the intention is best seen by inserting "including".

... a clause, including both a subject and verb.

Or, possibly, "with"

... a clause, with both a subject and verb.

Or, possibly, "that is,".

... a clause, that is, both a subject and verb.

Or, to spell it out in agonizing detail:

... requires a clause, and that means it requires a grammatical structure that contains both a subject and a verb.

English 1b3Is this a second direct object

I don't see it that way, but see next response.

English 1b3Is there a name for a second direct object?

No. In fact, I don't think such a thing exists unless we call anything in apposition to the direct object a second direct object or if we call the direct objects connected by "and" the second direct object, the third direct object, and so on.

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

Maybe we are splitting hairs here, but I see clause as a group of words that contain a S & V.

Anonymous
I don't think you can have a "second direct object."

(a) You can, of course, have a compound direct object:

(i) I eat apples and oranges.

What is the difference, Anon?

Anonymous · Answer

English 1b3:

(1) I believe that everyone agrees with you that a clause does, indeed, have a subject and a verb.

(2) What is the difference between a compound direct object and a second direct object?

(a) Of course, I have no answer.

(b) People can use any terminology that they wish.

(c) Currently, I don't think that the concept of a second direct object exists in English grammar.

(d) Maybe (a big MAYBE), "apples and oranges" looks like two direct objects but is actually one direct object.

(i) Please consider the possibility that "I like apples and oranges" is just a more convenient way of saying: I like apples, and I like oranges.

(a) Here we have two sentences (joined by "and"), each with one object.

Thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

*** NON-EXPERT's OPINION ***

Hello, English1b3.

(1) I have just been reminded of something that may interest you.

(2) It seems that SOME grammarians DO feel that a sentence CAN have double direct objects.

(a) Mrs. Smith taught me English.

(i) Some people feel that one is correct in saying that both "me" and "English" are direct objects: She did teach me; She did teach English.

(ii) OF COURSE, most books tell us to consider "me" as the INDIRECT object.

Thank you.

Second direct object

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