Agreement with Indirect Object
2021年9月30日
When it comes to grammar, there are many rules that can be difficult to remember. One of these rules is the agreement with indirect objects. This refers to the agreement between the verb and the indirect object in a sentence.
An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that indicates to or for whom the action of the verb is done. For example, in the sentence “I gave Jane the book,” “Jane” is the indirect object. It tells us who the book was given to.
In English, the agreement with indirect objects depends on the verb being used. Some verbs, like “give” in the example above, require an indirect object. Other verbs, such as “tell” or “show,” can take both a direct and indirect object. For example, “I told Jane the truth” has both a direct object (the truth) and an indirect object (Jane).
When it comes to agreement with indirect objects, there are two main points to remember:
1. The verb must agree in number and person with the subject of the sentence. For example, “I gave Jane the book” uses the singular form of the verb “give” because the subject “I” is singular. However, “We gave Jane the book” uses the plural form of the verb “give” because the subject “We” is plural.
2. The pronoun used for the indirect object must agree in gender and number with the person or thing being referred to. For example, “I gave Jane the book” uses the feminine pronoun “her” because Jane is female. However, “I gave John the book” would use the masculine pronoun “him” because John is male.
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In conclusion, the agreement with indirect objects is an important aspect of English grammar. It requires the verb to agree with the subject of the sentence and the pronoun to agree with the gender and number of the indirect object. By keeping these rules in mind, you can improve the readability and effectiveness of your writing.