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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

"To give" with an indirect object

Does the verb "to give" require an indirect object in any cases? I can't find a canonized rule about it anywhere, but all the examples given in the unabridged M-W Dictionary seem to suggest that if the direct object is a concrete thing, an indirect object is required. But I can't find a rule anywhere that supports that.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Does the verb "to give" require an indirect object in any cases? I take it you mean 'in all cases'/ The answer is 'No'. I am giving a lecture in Oxford next week.

— Fivejedjon

  • Anonymous Does the verb "to give" require an indirect object in any cases?
  • I take it you mean 'in all cases'/ The answer is 'No'.
  • I am giving a lecture in Oxford next week.
  • One may assume that I am giving it to an audience, but there is no requirement to sate this.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousDoes the verb "to give" require an indirect object in any cases?
I take it you mean 'in all cases'/

The answer is 'No'. I am giving a lecture in Oxford next week. One may assume that I am giving it to an audience, but there is no requirement to sate this.
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AnonymousDoes the verb "to give" require an indirect object in any cases?
Probably not, but it will usually sound very strange without it, as you can see from the examples below.

I gave a watch. / She gave the book. / Tom has given the rest of the furniture.

I don't recommend omitting the indirect object.
Anonymous
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