Gert: Created page with "The Indirect Object Test for identifying indirect objects in English An indirect object requires the presence of a direct object. An indirect object is the NP that precedes th..."

2017-04-25T13:50:55Z

Created page with "The Indirect Object Test for identifying indirect objects in English An indirect object requires the presence of a direct object. An indirect object is the NP that precedes th..."

New page

The Indirect Object
Test for identifying indirect objects in English
An indirect object requires the presence of a direct object.
An indirect object is the NP that precedes the direct object.
I passed Kimindir.obj [the ball]dir.obj
Usually, an indirect object can appear as an oblique to-PP complement.
Note: for many grammarians, such to-PPs are also often called indirect objects.
I passed Kim the salt. -> I passed the salt to Kim.
I passed Kim the salt. -> *I passed Kim to the salt.
Passivization: An indirect object can be passivized, with the direct object remaining an accusative NP. If the direct object is passivized, the indirect object must appear as an oblique complement.
I passed Kim the salt. -> Kim was passed the salt.
I passed Kim the salt. -> The salt was passed *(to) Kim.
Categories and structural position
The indirect object is an NP in accusative case
It is a sister of V and NP and dominated by a VP.
Example:
_S_
/ \
/ AuxP
/ / \
subj / ___VP___
/ / / \ \
/ / / ind.obj dir.obj
/ / / | \
NP Aux V NP __NP__
/__\ | | /__\ /______\
Pat will pass Kim the salt.

The Indirect Object - Revision history

Gert: Created page with "The Indirect Object Test for identifying indirect objects in English An indirect object requires the presence of a direct object. An indirect object is the NP that precedes th..."