Dear List,

Does it make sense that a prepositional phrase can be used nominally?  If it 
makes sense to substitute "that," "this," "it," or some other pronoun for the 
prepositional phrase, could it make sense to call a prepositional phrase a 
direct object?

For instance: in <he told his friends of the peculiar weather>, does it make 
sense to call "friends" the indirect object and "of the peculiar weather" the 
direct object?  In <he told his friends the truth> would "friends" be the 
indirect object and "truth" the direct object?  In <he told his friends> is 
"friends" a direct object, or an indirect object with an implied direct object? 
In <he told the truth> is there an implied indirect object, those who were told? 
In <he told the truth to his friends> is "truth" the direct object and "friends" 
the indirect object in a prepositional phrase? In <he told his friends about the 
truth> is "friends" the indirect object and "about the truth" the direct object? 
In <he told his friends that the truth can be found> is "that the truth can be 
found" a clausal direct object?  How else could these be analyzed?

Thanks for your help,

Scott Woods


      

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