Thanks for the comments... helpful and timely, as I was actually able to
display and discuss these messages to several classes (11th grade). I think
they were a bit surprised that people really do talk about grammar issues
and have informed opinions - and specific knowledge about an issue they're
studying! Imagine that! Yes, it does make it more relevant for a 17 year
old. They took away a better (albeit slightly, but still...) understanding
of the object position and I alongside them learned a bit about the
ditransitive. Thank you, as always.

John



On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 10:29 AM, Bruce Despain <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>  John,
>
> Here is what I believe to be something close to the traditional analysis,
> but with important qualifications.
>
> The full meaning of the sentence would include what is often called a *
> ditransitive* verb:
>
> *Mr. Chorazy assigned his students two chapters of reading.*
>
> With this verb the first object is the indirect object and the second is
> the direct object.  There is a paraphrase with the indirect object that
> allows the prepositional phrase (related to a locative adverb of *
> direction* or *goal*) to be substituted for the indirect object.  This is
> loosely called an indirect object (usually a dative case ending in Latin
> and Greek translations).
>
> *Mr. Chorazy assigned two chapters of reading to his students.*
>
> There are other ditransitive verbs which do not have indirect objects in
> this sense, for example:
>
> *Mr. Chorazy's students asked him many questions.*
> *Mr. Chorazy's students asked many questions of him. *
> **
> This verb allows a prepositional phrase related to a locative adverb of *
> origin*.
>
>  *Mr. Chorazy's students elected him teacher of the year.*
> *Mr. Chorazy's students elected him as teacher of the year. *
> **
>  This direct object comes first and the verb allows a prepositional
> phrase related to a predicate noun (not an indirect object).
>
> Ditransitive verbs usually allow their passive voice construction to take
> either object as subject, but when the prepositional phrase is present, the
> verb is *monotransitive* and does not allow such a construction.  (If it
> did, the prepositional phrase would not be related to a locative and the
> verb would be reanalyzed as one kind of phrasal verb with a different kind
> of complement.)
>
> *Mr. Chorazy's students were assigned two chapters of reading (by him).*
> *Two chapters of reading were assigned (to) Mr. Chorazy's students.*
>
> *Mr. Chorazy was asked many questions (by his students).*
> *Many questions were asked (of) Mr. Chorazy (by his students). *
>
> *Mr. Chorazy was elected teacher of the year (by his students).*
> **Teacher of the year was elected (for?) Mr. Chorazy (by his students).*[possible reanalysis as a benefactive]
>
> Bruce Despain
> This response is based on principles set forth in bdespain.org under
> "studies" (Syntax of the Sentences of English)
>
> --- [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> From: John Chorazy <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Transitive Verb
> Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:25:57 -0500
>
> Good morning...  In the following sentence model, which is the direct and
> the indirect object of the transitive verb? Is reading assigned, or is an
> implied reader(s) assigned? Funny that I've only today been caused to
> consider this more closely...
>
>
> *Mr. Chorazy assigned two chapters of reading.*
> **
> **
> I could reword this numerous ways: Two chapters were assigned for
> homework; The students were assigned two chapters, etc. Does either change
> who/what is actually being assigned? Is "to" implied somehow when using
> this particular verb?
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
>
> --
> John Chorazy
> English III Honors and Academic
> Pequannock Township High School
> 973.616.6000
>
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>



-- 
John Chorazy
English III Honors and Academic
Pequannock Township High School
973.616.6000

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