I guess I’m on to reply to Scott too. Consider my reply and
apology to John; it may help.
He
showed us the tree. subject, verb, indirect object, direct object
He
showed us that the tree was dead. subject, verb, indirect object, clause as
direct object
I
think these verbs are related but different semantically. The first implies
the presence of a tree, whereas the second can be confined to mental space.
The indirect object allows a passive: “We were shown that the tree was dead.” I’ll
just point out parallels in “He showed the tree to us” viz. “He showed it
to us that the tree was dead.” These have the prepositional phrase as in some
of the next examples. The borderline existence of passives is perhaps pivotal ?“We
were shown the tree to” viz. ?“We were shown it to, that the tree was
dead.”
He
proved that the tree was dead. subject, verb, clause as direct object
He
proved to us that the tree was dead. subject, verb, prepositional phrase,
clause as direct object
This
is “indirect object” only semantically. The phrase confines the mental
activity to certain people. We might think there no passive for it: *”We were
proved that the tree was dead.” However: ?”We were proved it to, that the tree
was dead.” This seems to make it arguable that the p.p. hides a prepositional
object.
He
demonstrated that the tree was dead. subject, verb, clause as direct object
He
demonstrated to us that the tree was dead. subject, verb, prepositional phrase,
clause as direct object
as
with proved. ??”We were demonstrated it to, that the tree was dead.”
He
convinced the children to study grammar. subject, verb, direct object,
infinitive phrase as a result clause
The
children will study grammar. Result clauses are usually adverbial adjuncts.
He
convinced us of the truth. subject, verb, direct object, prepositional phrase
The
truth is object of the preposition. This does not seem to be a phrasal verb,
since the object of the preposition cannot be made subject of a passive form of
the verb. But this may be due to the fact that the verb already has one direct
object. I take the prepositional phrase as adverbial to convince telling
the extent.
He
convinced us that the tree was dead. subject, verb, direct object, clause as adverb
of extent (object of omitted preposition of)
I
think the last two sentences are fully parallel in structure (analogous).
Bruce
From: Assembly for the
Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott
Woods
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 8:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: "convinces us that..."?
List, The following sentences seem similar, but the verbs aren't
interchangeable. Do you agree with my analyses? Any suggestions? <He showed us the tree> Sub, verb, indirect
object, direct object <He showed us that the tree was dead> Sub, verb,
indirect object, clausal direct object <He proved that the tree was dead> Sub, berb,
clausal direct object <He proved to us that the tree was dead> Sub, verb,
indirect object in prepositional phrase, clausal direct object <He demonstrated that the tree was dead> Sub, verb,
clausal direct object <He demonstrated to us that the tree was dead>
Subject, verb, indirect object in prepositional phrase, clausal direct object <He convinced the children to study grammar>
subject, verb, direct object, infinitive phrase (How would you describe the
function of the infinitive?) <He convinced us of the truth> subject, verb, direct
object, prepositional phrase? <of> attached to phrasal verb?, What is
the function of <the truth>? <He convinced us that the tree was dead> subject,
verb, ?,? Is this analogous to the <of the truth> sentence? Scott Woods
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