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)
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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