Verbs

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Can you explain this to me a little bit, please?

I know that (Transitive Verbs) take an Object NP after them, while (Ditransitive Verbs) take two Object NPs after them.

These types of sentences confuse me a lot.
The sentences that has a Prepositional Phrase after the first object NP.

He put (the book) (on the table).

What is the type of the verb (put) here? Transitive or Ditransitive.
Is it taking two Object NP after it??

2

I don’t see how it could be called ditransitive given the preposition “on”. Only “the book” is an object of the verb.

3

Thanks Dozy :slight_smile:

But what can you understand from this example?

Is it the teacher’s mistake?

He states DiTrv for the sentence. He put the book on the table.

4

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello,

  1. According to THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR (1994), the experts do not always agree on terminology.

  2. Some experts use the term “complex transitive verb” to describe a "verb that takes an obligatory [my emphasis] adverbial:

She put the car in the garage. [My note: Native speakers do not accept “She put the car.”]
He threw himself into the role. [My note: Native speakers do not accept "He threw himself.]

  1. I am pretty sure that native speakers will not accept “He put the book.” You MUST have an adverbial, too: on the table.
  1. According to that book, a ditransitive (or “double transitive”) verb has a direct object and an indirect object:

I gave my mother flowers.
I gave flowers to my mother.

As you can see, your sentence does not contain two objects.

James

The authors of that book deserve credit: Ms. Sylvia Chalker and Mr. Edmund Weiner.

5

So, it’s complex transitive then?

But some sites state the complex transitive as in this example:

They called him a hero.

The verb takes a NP followed by another NP that describes the object NP.

6

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello,

That book ALSO uses that term to describe this kind of sentence:

Let’s paint the town RED.
They made him LEADER.

“town” is the direct object; “red” is the OBJECT COMPLEMENT.

Those authors say this:

"One analyst’s “ditransitives” … are another’s “complex transitives.” (So I guess it all depends on which definition your teacher has decided to accept.)

James

7

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello,

That book ALSO uses that term to describe this kind of sentence:

Let’s paint the town RED.
They made him LEADER.

“town” is the direct object; “red” is the OBJECT COMPLEMENT.

Those authors say this:

"One analyst’s “ditransitives” … are another’s “complex transitives.” (So I guess it all depends on which definition your teacher has decided to accept.)

James

8

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello,

That book ALSO uses that term to describe this kind of sentence:

Let’s paint the town RED.
They made him LEADER.

“town” is the direct object; “red” is the OBJECT COMPLEMENT.

Those authors say this:

"One analyst’s “ditransitives” … are another’s “complex transitives.” (So I guess it all depends on which definition your teacher has decided to accept.)

James