A SEMANTIC CONSTRAINT ON THE BENEFACTIVE DOUBLE OBJECT CONSTRUCTION

要旨

This paper discusses the acceptability of the benefactive double object construction in English. Contrary to the previous claim that only verbs of creation and of obtaining can appear in the construction, the paper shows that there are many acceptable sentences of this pattern involving simple action verbs. It further argues that the construction is acceptable to the extent that it is clearly shown that the action the subject referent performs is intended for the benefit of the indirect object referent. It also examines some differences between the construction in question and the double object construction paraphrasable as the V+NP+to+NP pattern, and briefly discusses the benefactive construction in Japanese.

主題