Language/French/Grammar/Confusions-English-and-French-direct-object

Possible confusions between English and French over what is a direct object: English 'double object' verbs

English: 2 structures for a similar meaning

English has a set of verbs which allow 2 structures for a similar meaning:

1. one has a direct object and a prepositional object,
2. the other has two non-prepositional objects and the word order is different:

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1. John gave flowers to Naomi
2. John gave Naomi flowers

In both sentences 'Naomi' is the indirect object of the verb 'give' and 'flowers' is the direct object, but in the 'double object' construction 'Naomi' directly follows the verb, which gives the impression that it is the direct object. English allows either object to become the subject in a passive sentence:

1. Flowers were given to Naomi by John
2. Naomi was given flowers by John

French: only 1 structure

French, however, only allows the prepositional object construction offrir quelque chose à quelqu'un: Jean a offert des fleurs à Naomi (NOT *Jean a offert Naomi des fleurs)

French: direct object = the subject

Furthermore, French only allows the direct object to become the subject in a passive sentence.

Thus:

• Des fleurs furent offertes à Naomi par Jean

Flowers were given to Naomi by Jean

It is an acceptable French sentence, but "Naomi fut offerte des fleurs par Jean" is entirely unacceptable.

Comparison between French & English

Sentences constructed with similar verbs run into the same problems:

English

To teach somebody something:

• I taught French to John
• I taught John French
• French was taught to John by me
• John was taught French by me

French

Enseigner quelque chose à quelqu'un:

• J'ai enseigné le français à Jean
• But *J'ai enseigné Jean le français is unacceptable

Therefore :

• Le français fut enseigné à Jean par moi is acceptable
• But *Jean fut enseigné le français par moi is unacceptable

English

To tell somebody something:

• I told a story to John
• I told John a story
• A story was told to John by me
• John was told a story by me

French

Raconter quelque chose à quelqu'un:

• J'ai raconté une histoire à Jean

• But *J'ai raconté Jean une histoire is unacceptable

Therefore :

• Une histoire fut racontée à Jean par moi is acceptable
• But *Jean fut raconté une histoire par moi is unacceptable

List of common French verbs which cannot be made the subject of a passive

Common French verbs whose prepositional objects must keep the preposition and cannot be made the subject of a passive are listed below:

French	Translation
accorder qc à qn to grant sb sth	to grant sb sth
apprendre qc à qn to teach sb sth	to teach sb sth
commander qc à qn	to order sb to do sth/to order sth from sb
conseiller qc à qn	to advise sb to do sth
défendre qc à qn	to forbid sb sth
demander qc à qn	to ask sb sth
donner qc à qn	to give sb sth
écrire qc à qn	to write sb sth
enseigner qc à qn	to teach sb sth
laisser qc à qn	to leave sb sth
montrer qc à qn	to show sb sth
offrir qc à qn	to offer sb sth, treat sb to sth
pardonner qc à qn	to forgive sb sth
passer qc à qn	to pass sb sth
permettre qc à qn	to allow sb sth
prescrire qc à qn	to prescribe sb sth
prêter qc à qn	to lend sb sth
promettre qc à qn	to promise sb sth
refuser qc à qn	to refuse sb sth