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