Language/French/Grammar/Double-object-constructions-with-no-preposition
[CHANGED]
Definitions Reminder: English Double object verbs (Distransitive Verbs)[edit | edit source]
In English, some so-called "distransitive" verbs have 2 object complements:
- an indirect object
- and a direct object.
Subject | Verb | Indirect object | Direct object |
---|---|---|---|
My husband | sent | her | a letter |
She | brought | her father | some fruits. |
She | cooked | all her friends | a delicious cake. |
These clauses have the structure:
Verb + Noun (indirect object) + Noun (direct object)
English ditransitive verbs & preposition omission[edit | edit source]
Some ditransitive verbs in English allow the preposition introducing the second object to be omitted and the order of the objects to be switched around. This is not possible in French.
Example[edit | edit source]
- offrir un cadeau à sa tante
give a present to one's aunt
⚠ Without preposition: Correct in English but NOT in French:
offrir sa tante un cadeau(without preposition: not accepted in French)
give one's aunt a gift (without preposition: correct in English)
Example[edit | edit source]
- passer le poivre à son voisin
pass the pepper to your neighbor
⚠ Without preposition: Correct in English but NOT in French:
passer son voisin le sel(without preposition: not accepted in French)
to pass one's neighbor the pepper (without preposition: correct in English)
All right! that's all for now, see you soon for another French lesson! 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- French Ditransitive verbs
- ensuite VS puis
- Agreement of the past participle following “être” with the subject of a passive
- Function of adverbs
- Non agreement of direct object numerals with coûter, peser and mesurer
- Masculine Nouns Ending in ée
- Adverbs ending in —amment and —eminent derived from adjectives ending in —ant or —ent
- Non specific use of y
- Ordinal numbers
- Subject verb agreement — Verb agreement with fractions
- Use of soi
- Singular or plural when a number of individuals have one item each
- Order of unstressed object pronouns when more than one is present
- The plural of compound nouns
- Subject–Verb Agreement