2ND YEAR AAPLIED MODERN LANGUAGES SYNTAX 1

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: ROXANA-CRISTINA PETCU, PhD

THE DOUBLE OBJECT CONSTRUCTION
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 onject, which has the role of Goal or
Beneficiary.
The two objects are obligatory arguments.
We shall see that there is a difference of interpretation between the prepositional variant and the double
object construction.
verbs which involve causation of a change of possession allow the Dative alternation.
Eg. (1) The teacher gave bad marks to the students. (Goal)
The teacher gave the students bad marks.
(2) She made a shirt for her niece. (Beneficiary)
*She made her niece a skirt.
Prepositional variant - interpreted as Cause X TO BE OF Y
- the affected object is the DO
Double Object construction - interpreted as: CAUSE Y TO HAVE X
- the affected object is the Indirect Object
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, transposrt, transfer, address, porpel, 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. bequeath, 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. She communicated the news to John.
*She communicated John the news.
3) miscellaneous entruct, present, provide, supply, credit, furnish, carry, pull, push, lift, lower, raise
Eg. They presented the prize to her.
*They presemted 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.
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,

THE PASSIVE ; MIDDLE FORMATION

THE PASSIVE
Complex linguistic phenomenon, which manifests itself at three levels of linguistic analysis:
a) the morphological level the auxiliaries be and get and the past participle of the verb
b) the syntactic level a change in position and status of the active Subject and Object
c)the semantic level a change in the relation between the underlying role-structure of the sentence and its
organization. The agent(subject) no longer appears in the subject position in the sentence, while the patient (the
object) appears in subject position.
Stylistically speaking, the Passive makes the discourse more objective, what is important is not the agent
anymore, but the event denoted by the verb itself.
The Passive Morphology be + the past participle. Passive verbs behave like unaccusative verbs. The
external theta role of the verb that undergoes passovization is absorbed by the passive morphology, namely
the past participle of the verb.The verb is generated from the Lexicon as passive, that is as an unaccusative
that only has an internal argument which has to move to [Spec,IP] in order to be assigned case and also to
satisfy the Extended Projection Principle.Being an unaccusative verb it does not theta-mark an external
argument so it cannot assign Accusative case. The internal argument moves to [Spec,IP] and leaves behind
a trace that forms a chain with the moved constituent <DP i , ti > The external argument of the original
active verb can be recovered in the passive sentence as a prepositional phrase headed by the preposition BY
which assigns it the theta role Agent as well as case or it can be implicit.
Conditions on the Passive the adjancency constraint(the double object construction; the dative verbs)
(even with non-arguments of the verb)
Eg. John wrote a book.
The book was written (by John).
The Domain of the Passive
Transitive verbs eg. The newcomer solved the puzzle.
The puzzle was solved by a new comer.
- the position of the Adverbials of manner
eg. He wrote the letter rapidly.
The letter was rapidly written.
Ditransitive verbs ( change of possession, the Indirect Object is a beneficiary; both objects may undergo
Passivization )
Eg. (1)He gave the flowers to Mary
The flowers were given to Mary.

Passivization of the Indirect Object only after Dative movement (adjacency constraint)
I gave Mary the flowers.
Mary was given the flowers.

(2) She gave a book to me. / A book was given to me. / *I was given a book to.
She gave me a book. / I was given a book. / *A book was given me.
Ditransitives (no change of possession, the Indirect Object is not a beneficiary, but an Experiencer, only
the IO can be passivised)
Eg. He gave me a push,
I was given a push.
*A push was given to me.
Unergatives with a prepositional object
Eg. He insisted upon the invitation. / The invitation was insisted upon.
They talked about the movie./ The movie was talked about.

 Intransitive with particle and preposition

Eg. They did away with that law.
That law was done away with.
Intransitives with two prepositional objects _ No passive
Eg, talk to smb about smth; lecture; speak; apologize; appeal

The Accusative NP in a Resultative Constrution

(1) She wore her pullover thin.
Her pullover was worn thin.
(2)He shouted us into silence.
We were shouted into silence

The Accusative in complex constructions Acc+Infinitive; ACC+Participle

(1) I saw him come. / He was seem to come
(2) I saw him coming. /He was seen coming.

Idiomatic phrases
Eg. Take strong exception to smth; make an example of smth; foist all ones problems on smth; pin ones faith
on smth; make too much of smth; keep close tabs on smth; take advantage of smth,; etc
Eg. They made an example of his behaviour.
His behaviuour was made an example of.
Some Prepositional Phrases showing location
They have sat on the chair.
That chair has been sat on.
NO Passive:
reciprocal verbs resemble, marry
eg. Music resembles poetry.
*Poetry is resembles by music
state verbs (verbs of possession) have, possess, own
eg. He owns a house.
*The house is owned by him.
(verbs of feelings) love, hate, loathe, abhor
Eg. He loves Mary.
*Mary is loved by him.
Reflexives
Eg. Mary admired herself in the mirror.
*Herself was admired by Mary in the mirror.
no idiomatic IT ( This argument eats it. / *IT is eaten by this argument.
The Get Passive
. more dynamic, may have a detrimental meaning, may imply that the Agent has some responsibility for a
detrimental action
eg. His leg got broken.
How did the window get open?
- focuses on the event and on its effects on the Theme/Patient
- the implied agent has full control over the action denoted by the verb
(*He got killed with great care./ He got shot he did something because he wanted to get shot)
- it involves the speakers attitude, his emotional involvement
Eg. He got caught, the silly fool!
- it is associated with more punctual events.

Eg. He got arrested.

Middles
Eg. The poem reads easily./ Tennis balls sell best in summer./ The play reads better than it acts../ This fabric
washes easily./ Cotton shirts iron well./ These figures add easily.
Properties of the English Middles
they are one argument verb, the agent is not overt in the sentence.It may be understood as one or people in
general,
Unaccusatives do not have an external argument, not even an implicit one, so they can co-occur with all by
itself, in the sense that something happens without external aid, agentlessly, unlike middles.
Eg. The boat sank all by itself.
*The play acts well all by itself.
The meaning contribution of the subject of a middle sentence is different from the meaning contribution of
the subject in a passive sentence, as the theta roles assigned to the subjects of a middle sentence are very
different.
Eg. The book reads easily. [Theme]
Children scare easily. [Experiencer]
The truck loads easily. [Location]
Eg. The book reads easily. (It can be paraphrased as the book has the necessary properties that allow
it to read easily.Somehow the subject is responsible for the action
denoted by the verb.)
The book was easily read.
In an unaccusative sentence the subject cannot be interpreted as responsible because it refers to a concrete entity.
Eg. The door opens with difficulty.
So, the subject of a middle sentence is an entity, a non-Agent which is responsible for the action denoted by the
verb, in the sense that it has the necessary properties which make the situation denoted by the verb possible. In a
middle sentence, the Agent is semantically present, but syntactically absent.
Middles are generic sentences that do not describe particular events in time.They are seen as stative, atelic
predicates, like individual level predicates.They are compatible with always and incompatible with the
progressive. When they occur in the progressive they denote a change between successive stages. They do
not occur in the imperative.
Eg. This book always reads easily.
The manuscript is reading better and better.
*Handle smoothly, car!
Middle generally occur with obligatory modifications. It can be a Manner Adverbial, a Locative Adverbial, a
clausal modifier (non-purpose), a negative operator or an overt modal verb. The role of the modifier is to
stativize the predicate.
Eg. This book translates easily. (Manner)
Make sure the sddress reads through window. (Place)
Officials bribe before reaching high office. (Adverbial clause of time)
This text does not translate. (Negation)
This text will not translate.(overt modal and negation)
Agent oriented adverbs are not allowed in middle sentences.

Eg. *Officials bribe evidently.

Middle Formation
Only transitive verbs that have an affected argument enter Middle Formation. Effected objects cannot
occur in a middle sentence
Eg. *A dress makes easily.
Only activities and accomplishments occur in middle sentences, stative verbs and aachievements do not
allow middle formation.
Eg. The car drives well.
The book reads easily.
*The answer knows easily.
*Such mistakes notice fast.

Only transitives that allow an Agent, an Instrument or a Cause in subject position enter Middle Formation.

Eg, John[Agent] broke the window.

The stone[Instrument] broke the window.
The wind[Cause] broke the window.

ENGLISH SYNTAX SEMINAR (VI)

THE PASSIVE ; MIDDLE FORMATION
I. Mention the most important properties of the English Middles and provide examples.
II. Explain why the sentences below are ungrammatical:
1. *Such deeds do not admit easily.2.*Such stories do not tell fast.3.Politicians praise a lot on TV. 4.*Exams forget
easily. 5.*This kind of bread buys easily. 6. *Innocent victims murder easily.7.*Clever people like instantly.8.*This
aim achieves with difficulty. 9.*Fish cooks obviously.
III. Can the following verbs occur in middle sentences?
FLOAT, ROLL, BLOW, KICK, PULL, PUSH, BOMBARD, SHOWER, STONE, WATER, BREAK.
IV. Translate into English using middles wherever possible:
1. Aparatura de uz caznic se vinde foarte bine de srbtori.2. Se cumpr case n draci primvara i toamna.3.Am
dat peste un text absolut oribil.Pur i simplu nu se traduce orice ai face. 4.Am s-mi cumpr materialul
acesta.Vnztoarea spune c se spal i se calc foarte bine.5.M-am uitat la anunurile din ziar dup un
apartament mai mic de nchiriat, cci, dup cum se tie apartamentele mici se nchiriaz mai repede deci sunt mai
greu de gsit. 6.D-mi nite lipici, te rog. Timbrele acestea nu se lipesc de loc pe plic i trebuie s dau scrisoarea
curierului care ateapt pe hol.7. Vilele sunt mai spaioase dect casele obinuite dar se vnd mai greu deoarece
preurile sunt foarte mari. 8.Chiar i pentru mine care sunt o gospodin fr experien albuul i glbenuul se
pot separa uor.9. Brnza se rade uor aa c nu ai de ce s te plngi.Poi s pui ct de mult la spaghete fr mare
efort.10. Problema se poate rezolve uor, nu te mai complica att.
VI. Mention the constraints on the Passive and provide examples.
VII. Explain the differences between the BE passive and the GET passive (Refer to sentences such as
Mary got fired, the fool! / Mary was fired last week)
VIII. Passivize the sentences below (if possible. If there is no passive counterpart explain why):
1.The newcomer solved the puzzle.2 He wrote the letter rapidly.3. Music resembles poetry.4. He owns a house.
5.He loves Mary. 6. Mary admired herself in the mirror.7. He gave the flowers to Mary. 8.He gave me a push,9. He
insisted upon the invitation.10.They talked about the movie.11. The two tickets cost $100.12. The book belongs to
me.13. The house stands by the hill.14. He availed himself of the opportunity. 15.They did away with that law.16.
They made an example of his behaviuor. 17.The minister took strong exception to the position put forth by the
opposition. 18. The teacher made too much of your attitude during the exam. 19. The secret police kept close tabs
on the members of that terrorist organisation. 20. Somebody has sat on the chair. 21. The manager heard her
talking to the stockbroker. 22. We saw him cross the street.23. The town was dancing with light and
shadow.24.The filled the freezer with fish. 25. They have decided on this chair. 26. It stormed up a flood last night.
27. I took a picture of Mary. 28. Your presence there surprised me. 29. The force of the blizzard took us by
surprise. 30. My family possess this flat. 31.His grandfather left him about $100,000.32.The hooligans set upon
the old man and beat him up.33.She doesnt like it if people criticize her.34.They have done away with trams in
England.35.I dont think the police are doing anything about it.36.They were giving a concert in the hall when a
large piece of plaster fell down from the ceiling. It injured about fifty people seriously enough for the ambulance
men to take them to hospital.37.I have him a cheque for the amount required.38.The magistrate let him off with a
severe reprimand.39.They had evacuated the Cathedral before the spire collapsed, so it did not hurt
anyone.40.They look after you very well in that hotel.41.The police eventually gave up the search for the missing
men.42.Some girls love it if men pay them compliments.43.Someone gave me this pen for Christmas.44.Everyone
was listening to the news bulletin with avid interest.45.They told him curtly to go away.46.They are now building a
new cinema there.47.I assure you that the authorities are investigating your complaint.48.Some people object if
others make them work hard.49.I hate it when people make fun of me, though I dont mind it if they tease
me.50.My sisters fianc is cooking dinner tonight. It smells all right anyway.51.He left without anyone noticing
him.52.He is tired of other people sponging him on.53.People believe the authorities accused them of planning an
armed revolt. 54.They swamped the ordinary voters with information about the candidates.55.Provided we do not
press the terms to far, we can identify the Republicans as the American conservatives and the Democrats as the
liberals.56.The law fixes the dates of the American presidential elections and there is no margin for
discretion.57.The voters mandate each member of the electoral college in advance. 58. They expect the Congress
will appoint him leader of the party.59.Somebody broke the vase during the party.60.Some crazy kids destroyed
my neighbours car last night.
IX. Translate into English:
1.Nu se pstreaz nici o dovad referitoare la vizita pe care spune c a fcut-o la Paris n 1978.2.Cum ni expirase
viza mi s-a interzis s mai intru n ar.3.Va fi ateptat la aeroport?4.Directorului I s-a trimis o invitaie din partea

consilului administrativ s se prezinte pe data de 20 ale lunii i s justifice propunerile ce fuseser fcute privind
modificarea organigramei ntreprinderii.5.Mare parte din ce s-a spus la ntrunire a fost notat n procesul
verbal.6.Operaia la care a fost supus a durat 6 ore.7.S-a auzit un strigt la cellat capt al coridorului i s-a vzut o
umbr neagr prelingndu-se pe perete.8.Hotrrea ei de a nu se cstori cu acel domn a fost aprobat de ntreaga
familie.9.Foarte multe obiecte de art deosebit de valoroase s-au distrus n timpul cutremurului.10. Se tie c
nimeni nu putea s-l sufere cnd era preedintele acelei fundaii.11.S-a acceptat n general idea c cele mai multe
IMM-uri din domeniul transporturilor sunt localizate n zonele de sud, centru i sud vest.12.n ultimul an s-a
nregistrat o scdere accentuat a realizrilor economice ale zonei.13.Dup un timp am pierdut vaporul din
vedere.14.Nu-mi vine s cred c aceste obiecte de mbrcminte au fost purtate de Regina Maria.15.Cum treceam
pe lng tejghea mi s-a dat un platou i am fost rugat s-l aduc la mas.16.Situaia a fost prezentat n faa
membrilor adunrii generale crora li s-a cerut s ia o hotrre urgent pentru ca lucrurile s poat fi remediate
ct mai curnd cu putin.17.Se pare c s-a descoperit un nou medicament pentru a lupta contra cazurilor de astm
la copii.18.Este posibil ca n urmtoarele cteva zile s fie eliberat un nou grup de prizonieri politici.19.Aproape
ntreg programul conferinei a fost alocat unui raport despre situaia din Irak.20.Nu tiu cum , dar n cele din
urm am fost convins s-mi cumpr o motociclet.21.S-a czut de accord s se amne ntrunirea.22.Toat lumea
se atepta ca daunele s fie deosebit de mari.23.Se vede clar c preurile au crescut vertiginos n luna
septembrie.24.S-a luat hotrrea s se construiasc un nou drum comunal.25.Ni s-a comunicat c minsitrul de
finane i-a dat demisia.26.nc nu s-a admis official c situaia dramatic a nvmntului superior romnesc
este cauzat n mare parte se subfinanarea cronic.27.Actualmente exist opinia c informaiile sunt transmise la
creier de ctre diverse substane chimice.28.Se crede c mai exist nc multe obstacole n calea procesului de pace
din Orientul Apropiat.29.n 1981 se cunotea doar existena a doi specialiti n acea boal extrem de rar n toat
lumea.30.S-a formulat acuzaia c prtul ar fi fost implicat ntr-un jaf armat.