The #1 easiest language to learn? (140)

91 Name: LinguaOtaku : 2007-09-04 13:25 ID:1+CnouDw

>>86

Technically you're incorrect here.

[set up] should be considered a ditransitive verb as it takes two objects ([us] and [the bomb]). By their very nature ditransitive verbs often lead to semantic and/or lexical ambiguity, leading to two readings of this sentence:

They [set up us the bomb].

lit. [Certain people mechanically facilitated the use of an explosive incendiary device for me and my comrades.]

and

They set up [us the bomb].

lit. [Certain people mechanically facilitated the use of me, an explosive incendiary device.]

Whilst the second of these is nonsense it's still a valid reading, therefore it could be argued that it has two different readings.

Also in English, word order is ALWAYS SVO. Sometimes we can omit the agentive object or passivise it to become the subject, but you'll never see a verb or object initial sentence in English.

Also, WITH and FOR are prepositions that can only occur in certain circumstances (ie. prepositional phrases indicating certain situations) and therefore are not difficult for non-native speakers to learn.

Otherwise...you're correct. Lol ^_____^.

This thread has been closed. You cannot post in this thread any longer.