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Languages => Language-specific analysis => English => Topic started by: mallu on August 30, 2016, 01:45:18 PM

Title: Are these sentences ruled out ungrammatical by native speakers
Post by: mallu on August 30, 2016, 01:45:18 PM

Hi
 Are the following sentences numbered i,ii,iii considered ungrammatical by native speakers (In  Indian English they are O.K)
 # Did you give the book to Mary
  i) Yes, I gave
  ii) Yes,I gave the book
  iii) Yes, I gave to Mary
Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Are these sentences ruled out ungrammatical by native speakers
Post by: Daniel on August 30, 2016, 03:05:04 PM

I would say they are ungrammatical.

There are different verbs "give" that might allow (ii) and/or (iii), in the following contexts:

"What did you donate to the organization this year?" -- I gave the book.
(A little awkward, but possible.)
"Who did you donate to this year?" -- I gave to Mary.


In American English the two normal answers to that would be:
Yes.
Yes, I gave the book to Mary.

There's nothing wrong with saying:
I gave the book to Mary.

But it's not really an appropriate answer to a yes/no question.