Ditransitive Verbs With Two Phrasal Structures

A small set of English verbs can be followed by two objects. One is the direct object and the other the indirect object. These verbs are called ditransitive because the verb phrase consists of two objects.

In many cases two phrasal structures are possible. One consists of two noun phrases with an indirect object and direct object, the double object construction, and the other is a noun phrase and a prepositional phrase in which the noun phrase is the direct object. This is known as the oblique dative. For example, the verb give allows both structures. We can say I gave Mary the chocolate and also I gave the chocolate to Mary. However, with certain verbs only one phrasal structure is possible.

A number of verbs only allow the double object construction. Here are examples:

I wished her luck.
Peter spared Paul the details.
The boss denied him a raise.
The government will charge businesses a new tax.
The judge granted him a retrial.

Another group of verbs only allows the oblique dative, which consists of a noun phrase and a prepositional phrase. Here are examples:

Barbara whispered the answer to Richard.
Lisa returned the bicycle to Grace.
The billionaire donated one million dollars to the museum.
The robber surrendered the gun to the police.
The shop delivered the earrings to my wife.

The reason for the variation in phrasal structures can be explained by history. In Old English, indirect object pronouns always preceded the direct object and indirect object nouns usually did. In 1066, the Norman French invaded England, and the linguistic contact affected the use of the ditransitive verb.

French expresses the indirect object with a prepositional phrase. Most of the verbs that only accept indirect objects with a prepositional phrase entered the English language after the Normal invasion. The include verbs such as donate, explain and report. However, most of the verbs that can occur with two noun phrases date back to Old English such as give, send and write. An exception is the verb say. Though it dates back to Old English, it has always required a prepositional phrase, i.e., I said bye to Henry. 

Most ditransitive verbs in English can occur in two phrasal structures. Most verbs which date back to Old English allow the double object construction and the oblique dative, but a few only allow one. Those verbs which only allow the double object construction have a structure which was common in Old English, and those which require the prepositional phrase have the same structure as in French. However, most English verbs allow both phrasal structures.