ESL Basic English Grammar Questions and Help

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:13:23 GMT

Question when do I use to or from with direct object and indirect object

ex.
I passed the salt to her
I passed the salt for her.
In these cases both prepositions are correct . I need to find the rule of when to use each one. I am a teacher and I cant explain it to my student. Please help

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:03:19 GMT

What you have there is correct if I am not mistaken.

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Grammar Geek — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:24:56 GMT

Anonymous

Neither do i. Im need help too!

Here's a thought: Read the freaking thread!

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:49:16 GMT

Neither do i. Im need help too!

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

ClarkePeters — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:12:39 GMT

This post is a little dated but since I've been working with my students on this very topic I thought I'd post.

First, you can't understand what the "object of the preposition" is if you don't first know how to identify prepositions. So you need to find a list (google "list prepositions English" or "frequency list prepositions English") and you should get plenty of lists. Depending on which list you go by, there are from 80 to 130 or so prepositions. Most are not used too often, so I'd get a frequency list and try to learn the first 50 or so.   That may sound like a lot of words, but compared to the number of words in Webster's 500,000 word dictionary, that's really very few words--and they are SO IMPORTANT to understanding sentence structure. If you don't want to memorize, no problem, just keep a list with you at all times.

When you come across a word from the list, check to see if it has an object by asking "what" after the preposition.
              John called about the party.
              about what? the party,
              so "party" or "the party" if you include the article, is the object of the preposition.

Be careful, prepositions sometimes act as adverbs.
John got up and went to the kitchen.
up what? ---ummmm, no answer, there is NO object, so "up" is an adverb to "got"

as for DO, ask "what" after the verb.

John made a cake.
John made what? a cake
DO is cake

as for IO, ask "to whom/what?" or "for whom/what?" after the DO
John made Mary a cake.
John made what? a cake
DO is cake
a cake for whom? for Mary
IO is Mary.

The following sentences are exactly the same in meaning! (except maybe in emphasis)

John made Mary a cake.         common usage
John made for Mary a cake.   NOT common usage, but technically
                                                  correct, sometimes used for emphasis
John made a cake for Mary.    common usage

same with "to"
John gave Mary a cake.
John gave to Mary a cake.   NOT common usage
John gave a cake to Mary.

some grammarians will say that an IO can ONLY be between the verb and DO.
Other linguists say functionally there is no difference, so it is OK to say that "to Mary" or "for Mary" is the IO. However, others will argue that they are adverbials answering the question where (to) or why (for) about the verb (made why? for Mary    gave where? to Mary).
How one describes it is not important, as they all function the same.

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Grammar Geek — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:19:55 GMT

Anon, you need examples of WHAT?

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:01:52 GMT

please help me. i need some examples.

thanks,

anom.

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:17:43 GMT

i dont get them either don't worry

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:02:40 GMT

the internet is a good thing to use

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Grammar Geek — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:42:44 GMT

No, "with Latia" does not create an indirect object situation. If you GAVE your homework TO Latia, she is the indirect object. The homework moved from you to her. In this case, you worked with Latia to do your homework Latia is he object of the preposition "with."

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:24:05 GMT

I get it,but then I get confused.

For example: I did my homework with latia

Did- is the verb , homework- indirect object, Latia- is direct object

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Grammar Geek — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 04:14:32 GMT

Anon, "u" need to ask more specific questions if you want some help.

What don't you understand?

She sent a letter to Peter.

Can you name the subject, the direct object, and the indirect object?

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:13:19 GMT

ugh! i need help too! i dont get iiiiiittttttt!!! wen u get a reply would u mind telin me bout' it?

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:11:10 GMT

Dear Anonymous,

all you need to do is just ask your teacher or a friend for help and i am sure that they will come truogh for you.

Signed : Mrs. English

Re: direct object indirect object object of a preposition help me! plz

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 12:31:52 GMT

The post a couple spots above mine is wrong...in the sentence, "I gave him a pen," "him" is the indirect object and "a pen" is the direct object. He gave a pen. He did not give him (as a gift, I would presume?). The indirect object always comes before the direct object in English.