some queries on preposition phrases

Question

Dear friendsI am here to pick your brains again.Q1:  Are the following analysis correct?My sister gives me a present.  (subject / verb / indirect object / direct object)My sister give a present to me. (subject / verb / direct object / prepositional phrase)Q2:  So, is it correct to say that sentence (2) does not have a indirect object ?  Q3:  Is the preposition phrase a modifier for the verb ‘give’ or ‘the noun ‘present’? Q4:  By the same token, in the sentence 'He caught the ball in his glove.', does the prep.phrase 'in his glove' modify 'caught' or 'ball' ?Many thanks.Donna

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

1. The analyses are correct. (You should have gives in both sentences, by the way.)

2. There are two different ways of analyzing that. It depends on how the author or teacher is using the terminology. Ask your teacher his or her preference on these.

a. According to one approach, to me is only a prepositional phrase, not an indirect object. The term indirect object is only used when the sentence is formulated as gives me a present. In this approach the term indirect object is used as a way of saying something about the form of the sentence.

b. Indirect objects can be expressed in two ways, as a single word (gives me ...) or as a prepositional phrase (gives ... to me). The term indirect object in this approach is used as a way of giving information about the function of me or to me in the sentence, the function being the same regardless of how it is expressed.

3. to me modifies the verb give by telling the destination of the giving.

4. in his glove modifies the verb caught. It's an adverbial of manner; it tells how the ball was caught.

CJ

Df2006 · Answer

Dear CalifJim

Thanks again for your prompt and most helpful advice.

And here are some more questions on sentence analysis for you or those who would be so kind......

None of us remembers Mum's birthday.

How should the phrase 'none of us’ be analysed:

a. 'none of us’ is the complete subject of the sentence, OR

b. 'none’ is the simple subject of the sentence; it is modified by the prep.phrase ‘of us’ which functions as an adjective.

On Mum's birthday, we bought her a bouquet of flowers.

How should the phrase ‘a bouquet of flowers’ be analysed:

a. 'a bouquet of flowers’ is the complete direct object of the sentence, OR

b. 'a bouquet’ is the simple direct object of the sentence; it is modified by the prep.phrase 'of flowers’ which functions as an adjective.

(2) If both (a) and (b) are correct, would it be advisable to spare the general ESL students with the seemingly more complicated concept (b)?

Thanks.

Donna

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

None of us remembers Mum's birthday.

none of us = subject

none = indefinite pronoun, and the relationship between none and us is established by the preposition: of.

of us is a prep phrase and modifies none

remembers = transitive verb

Mum's birthday = direct object of the verb.

On Mum's birthday, we bought her a bouquet of flowers

bought her something; something = a bouquet of flowers = direct object

her = indirect object.

some queries on preposition phrases

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