0
Ruslana Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
The Indirect and Prepositional Objects
Good day!
I have heard that after the verbs to explain, to prove, to read, to deliver, to submit, to introduce, to suggest and some others should be used the prepositional object instead of the indirect object. For example, it is correct to say:
1. Explain this rule to me.
2. He read the letter to her.
3. They will deliver the goods to our agents at the end of the week.
4. The buyers submitted a letter of guarantee to the sellers.
Does it mean that the next phrases are absolutely wrong?
(a) Explain me this rule.
(b) He read her the letter.
(c) They will deliver our agents the goods at the end of the week.
(d) The buyers submitted the sellers a letter of guarantee.
If I say this way, is it correct?
I have heard that after the verbs to explain, to prove, to read, to deliver, to submit, to introduce, to suggest and some others should be used the prepositional object instead of the indirect object. For example, it is correct to say:
1. Explain this rule to me.
2. He read the letter to her.
3. They will deliver the goods to our agents at the end of the week.
4. The buyers submitted a letter of guarantee to the sellers.
Does it mean that the next phrases are absolutely wrong?
(a) Explain me this rule.
(b) He read her the letter.
(c) They will deliver our agents the goods at the end of the week.
(d) The buyers submitted the sellers a letter of guarantee.
If I say this way, is it correct?
Top answer
Hello Ruslana, To me, the only possible one is B. I think that we are evolving away from indirect objects; the existence of so many phrasal verbs and the more efficient communication using the prepositional object favour the use of the latter.
- Hello Ruslana, To me, the only possible one is B.
- I think that we are evolving away from indirect objects; the existence of so many phrasal verbs and the more efficient communication using the prepositional object favour the use of the latter.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Hello Ruslana,
To me, the only possible one is B. I think that we are evolving away from indirect objects; the existence of so many phrasal verbs and the more efficient communication using the prepositional object favour the use of the latter.
To me, the only possible one is B. I think that we are evolving away from indirect objects; the existence of so many phrasal verbs and the more efficient communication using the prepositional object favour the use of the latter.
00
Hello, Mister Micawber!
Thus, A, C, D are not correct. But I have one more question. Are these acceptable?
I. Explain to me this rule.
II. He read to her the letter.
III. They will deliver to our agents the goods at the end of the week.
IV. The buyers submitted to the sellers a letter of guarantee.
Is th
Thus, A, C, D are not correct. But I have one more question. Are these acceptable?
I. Explain to me this rule.
II. He read to her the letter.
III. They will deliver to our agents the goods at the end of the week.
IV. The buyers submitted to the sellers a letter of guarantee.
Is th
00
I will not say that A, C, D, I, II, III or IV are incorrect; I will say only that they are non-native to an AmE (and I think, BrE) ear. As with much of English, there are no rules, just practices.
Your final sentence would indeed be easier and does sound more natural-- precisely because of the very long direct object. Your previous examples (I-IV) have shorter DOs, so that we can allow
Your final sentence would indeed be easier and does sound more natural-- precisely because of the very long direct object. Your previous examples (I-IV) have shorter DOs, so that we can allow
00
Related Questions