2ND YEAR MINOR SYNTAX 1 COURSE INSTRUCTOR: ROXANA-CRISTINA PETCU, PhD ENGLISH SYNTAX THE DOUBLE OBJECT CONSTRUCTION

ON Ditransitives verbs which take an external argument and two internal arguments, the first one functioning as a direct object and the second one as an indirect object, which has the role of Goal or Beneficiary. The two objects are obligatory arguments. Both of them receive case. They are assigned the same theta role both in the prepositional variant and the double object construction. We shall see that there is a difference of interpretation between the prepositional variant and the double object construction. The Dative Alternation is allowed with verbs involving the causation of a change of possession The Dative Alternation involves movement of the Goal (Beneficiary) argument in front of the Theme argument and also the deletion of the preposition TO or FOR (1 a) interpreted as CAUSE X TO BE OF Y - the Theme argument (the direct object) which is adjacent to the verb is affected by the event described by the verb (1b) interpreted as CAUSE Y TO HAVE X the Goal argument (the indirect 0bject) which becomes adjacent to the verb after performing the Dative Alternation is directly affected by the event described by the verb He gave the book to Mary. (Goal-Possessor) /- interpretation CAUSE x to BE of y He gave Mary (Goal-Theme) the book . / - interpretation CAUSE y to HAVE x Eg. (1) (a) The teacher gave bad marks to the students. (Goal) (b) The teacher gave the students bad marks. (2) She made a shirt for her niece. (Beneficiary) She made her niece a skirt. The Dative Alternation Classes of verbs denoting causation of change of possession which enter the Dative Alternation A) give verbs give, pass, sell, pay, loan, serve, feed, lease, lend, refund, rent, repay, trade Eg. I rented the house to Tom. I rented Tom the house. B) verbs of future having - offer, promise, leave, forward, allocate, assign, advance, grant, award, allot, concede, issue, leave, owe, vote. Eg. We granted the money to him. We granted him the money. C) verbs of throwing - bash, bat, flick, fling, hurl, hit, kick, pass, pitch, shoot, slam, slap, sling, throw, tip, toss

Eg. He passed the ball to John. He passed John the ball. D) verbs of sending; verbs of instruments of communication cable, send, mail, signal, e-mail, Ship, fax, wire, telephone, radio, telex, Eg, She e-mailed the news to me. She e-mailed me the news. E) verbs of communication ask, tell, show, teach, write, pose, read, quote, cite, preach Eg. He preached the Gospel to the natives. He preached the natives the Gospel. F) bring, take - He brought flowers to Mary. / He brought Mary flowers. BUT verbs of Latinate origin cannot occur in the double object construction, even if they denote change of possession Eg, donate, contribute, convey, distribute, transport, transfer, address, propel, release, explain, describe, portray, narrate, demonstrate, dictate, recite, etc. He donated his fortune to his best friend. *He donated his best friend his fortune. BUT verbs of future having and verbs of communication occur in the double object construction even if they are of Latin origin Eg. refer, recommend, guarantee, permit, radio, telegraph, telephone, etc Eg. She recommended the movie to me. She recommended me the movie. Other verbs which are compatible with the change of possession concept, but do not allow the double object construction 1) manner of speaking verbs babble, bark, bellow, chant, call, murmur, roar, whisper, yell, stammer, grumble, etc Eg. She whispered the news to her mother. *She whispered her mother the news. 2) verbs of communication subcategorizing for a complement clause admit, allege, announce, articulate, say, assert, communicate, question, claim, report, declare, confess, mention, state, repeat, recount Eg. (a)She communicated the news to John. (b) She communicated to John [that she would go there by all means] CP functioning as Direct Object clause. *She communicated John the news. 3) miscellaneous entrust, present, provide, supply, credit, furnish, carry, pull, push, lift, lower, raise

Eg. They presented the prize to her. *They presented her the prize. The [+animate] constraint Eg. She brought disaster to the village. / *She brought the village disaster. She brought a book to Mary. / She brought Mary a book. The PrepNP [+animate] - needs to be recognized as a potential possessor. Idioms the double object construction is allowed irrespective of the [+animate] constraint. In fact, it is the only possible form. Eg. give the house a coat of paint, give the door a kick, give the problem ones full attention, give somebody the creeps, give something his all, etc He gave the house anew coat of paint./ *He gave a new coat of paint to the house. The Benefective Alternation Eg. She carved a toy for the baby (Benefective) She carved the baby a toy. Verbs of creation in a general sense enter the Benefactive alternation; the DO an effected object Build verbs arrange, assemble, blow, build, carve, knit, embroider, forge(metal), hammer,roll, sculpt, compile Prepare verbs mix, blend, cook, bake, boil, brew, fix, toast, toss, grind, light, clear, fry, iron, poach, pour, prepare, roast, scamble, wash Get verbs book, buy, cash, catch, fetch, find, gather, hire, lease, leave, order, phone, pick, pluck, procure, pull, reach, rent, reserve, save, secure, slaughter, sreal, vote Create verbs design, dig, mint Verbs of performance dance, play, sing, spin, whistle, Syntax (Larson) (a)John have a book to his wife. VP Spec V

V [e]

VP NP Theme V give V PP P NP Goal

(b) John gave his wife a book. VP Spec V [e] NP Goali V V Give NP ti V VP V NP Theme

The VP shell analysis Eg. They got the teacher a present. He passed me the salt. I showed her my letter. The lexical verb originates as the head of the lexical VP, while the DP the teacher occupies the [Spec, VP] position and the DP a present the complement position, as if it were a representation of The teacher got a present. The lexical verb then raises to adjoint to the light causative verb that heads p. The subject they originates in [Spec, p] and is assigned the role Agent by the causative light verb.

IP DP I0 T DP They 0 +cause I p VP DP The Teacher V V0 Get DP a present

The VP-shell Small Clause analysis of the prepositional variant They got a present to the teacher. IP Spec Io DP they I P o VP V V0
Get SC/PP DP A present to P P0 DP the teacher

[+cause]

Pesetskys analysis He proposes that a double object construction contains a null element (a preposition) G which case-marks the second NP. Eg. John offered Mary G flowers. Pesetsky describes this preposition as null and affixal, and its role is to introduce the Theme argument in the double object construction.This null preposition is the one which

assigns case to the the Theme argument the way the overt preposition to assigns case in the prepositional variant. Because G is an affix it needs a host, that is it must be adjoined to a non-affixal category, so G moves and adjoins to the governing verb. IP DP I0 T -ed DP John 0 +cause V V0 Offer NP Mary I p VP V PP P P0 NP flowers

Differences between To and G Nominalizations based on the double object constructions are ungrammatical whereas those rebased on the to-variant are grammatical, because, as Pesetsky says affixation of G to the verb prevents further derivation. Eg. *Johns offer of Mary (of) flowers *Marks rental of Julie (of) a flat Johns offer of flowers to Mary Marks rental of a flat to Julie To selects a Goal and G selects a Theme.

2ND YEAR MINOR SYNTAX 1 COURSE INSTRUCTOR: ROXANA-CRISTINA PETCU, PhD

ENGLISH SYNTAX SEMINAR . THE DOUBLE OBJECT CONSTRUCTION I. Exemplify the classes of verbs which enter the Dative Alternation. II. Which are the classes of verbs which enter the Benefective Alternation? III. Explain the difference in meaning between the pairs of sentences below: 1. a) They gave flowers to Mary. / They gave Mary flowers. 2. a) The principal handed the prize to Victor./ The principal handed Victor the prize. IV.Derive the sentences below: 1. The teacher explained the lesson to the students. 2. The manager offered her a job. V.Apply Dative Movement in the sentences below; if it is not possible explain why. 1. They brought some flowers to Mary. / They brought some flowers to the table. 2. The sun baked these cookies for John. / Grandmother baked these cookies for John. 3. He wrote a letter to his sister. / He wrote a letter for his sister. 4. They donated the books to Tom / to the library. 5. The storm brought disaster to the city-dwellers. 6. He will teach Marys students for her. 7. She made a new dress for her daughter. 8. Professor Jones thanked the Rector for his students. 9. They promised a reward to the finder. 10. He owes a great sum of money to me. VI. If necessary, correct the sentences below: 1. She admitted me the mistake.2.I had to deny his request to him. 3. Bill decided not to mention his sore throat to the doctor.4.They explained me the procedure. 5. The suspect confessed the police his crime.6. We all envied his lifestyle to him.7. She announced her decision the delegates.8. That adventure cost him his life. 9. My grand parents gave a coat of paint to the house.10.The scientists demonstrated the new method to their colleagues.11.They built us a new house.12. Her new coat cost a fortune to her.13. I reported my boss the theft.14.Because of her present financial difficulties, Im afraid we must refuse you a pay rise.15. I pointed out the danger to the mechanic.16. Ann didnt have the time to take her library books back, so I took them to her.17.I made him a cup of coffee.18.Can you describe the attacker to me?19.Could I introduce you John?20.The university awarded a $10,000 grant Dr.Henderson, allowing him to continue his research. VII. In the sentences below pronominalize the two objects, apply Dative Movement(if possible), apply Object Deletion (if possible): 1. He will hand in the paper to the teacher tomorrow. 2. She hasnt written a letter to us for ages. 3. Susan read a story to little Tom. 4. The war ruined our future for us. 5. I offered the book to John. 6. Mary bought some flowers for herself. 7. Has he paid the money to you? 8. The earthquake brought disaster to Iran. 9. He explained that incredible story to me. 10. The lecturer distributed the hand-outs to the students. VIII. Consider the dative strings below in terms of: 1) possible pronominalization; 2) possible non-prepositional Double Object occurrence: 1. John has handed his room key to the receptionist. 2. Robert has taught English to all the youth of Ceylon and India. 3. I lent my typewriter to a friend for the week-end. 4. The Express magazine offers $ 1000 to any reader who could relate some details on the murder. 5. Rose bought a piece of cheese for her sister. 6. The last earthquake brought disaster to Japan. 7. She gave a kiss to her son. IX. The following Vs may occur with either a Goal or a Beneficiary role materialized as Indirect Object: BRING, LEAVE, WRITE, SING. Compare and point out the semantic difference : 1. Karen wrote a letter to her boyfriend. 2. Karen wrote a letter for her boyfriend. X. Analyze the objects in the sentences below:

1.He explained to me why he had been late.2.Mary had a bath before falling asleep.3.She was not sure of the news.4.She was living a dreadful life, among strangers.5.Joan married Ken in no time.6.He fought with his neighbour because they were cross with each other.7.He broke his leg when he least expected it.8.I acquainted myself with the surroundings.9.Don tell me this nonsense, I dont believe you.10. They knew they were fighting a losing battle. 11.He burst in on me one morning. 12. They appealed to her for mercy. 13. You will never live up to my expectations. 14. We argued with the authorities about the building permit. 15. He explained to me why he had been late.