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 has a set of verbs which allow two structures for a similar meaning: one has a direct object and a prepositional object, the other has two non-prepositional objects and the word order is different:

• John gave flowers to Naomi
• 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:

• Flowers were given to Naomi by John
• Naomi was given flowers by John

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)

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

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

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

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