Double Object Construction (definition)

Definition

A linguistic construction, such as a sentence, can have two objects instead of one object; this is identified as a double object construction. Verbs like give and buy typically used in double object construction as in (1) and (2).

1. Tako gave Zelda the cake
2. Dave bought Melissa the flowers

Note

Gaelic does not have double object constructions like (1)-(2), as can be seen in (3)-(4). Instead, the 'indirect object' must appear after the direct object and must be contained in a prepositional phrase as in (5)-(6).

3.

*Thug	Morag	Bill	leabhar
give.Pst	Morag	Bill	a book
'Morag gave Bill a book.'

4.

*Bhruich	Morag	Màiri	ugh
cook.Pst	Morag	Mary	an egg
'Morag cooked May an egg.'

5.

Thug	Morag	leabhar	do Bhill
give.Pst	Morag	a book	to Bill
'Morag gave a book to Bill.'

6.

Bhruich	Morag	ugh	airson Màiri
cook.Pst	Morag	an egg	for Màiri
'Morag cooked an egg for Mary.'

Note the different prepositions (i.e. to and for) used in (5) and (6).

See Also

Argument (definition)

External Links

DOC at Glottopedia

http://web.mit.edu/linguistics/events/tributes/hale/papers/Ch.2_Double_Obj_Construc.2.pdf

http://www.lfg09.net/abstracts/lfg09abs_lam.pdf

References

DOC at Glottopedia
Carnie, Andrew (2007). Syntax: A Generative Introduction. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.