dative shift

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdeɪtɪv ʃɪft/

Noun

English Wikipedia has an article on:

dative shift

Wikipedia

dative shift (plural dative shifts)

1. (grammar) Relocation of the indirect object of a ditransitive verb from a prepositional phrase to a core argument or vice versa.

   The clauses "I'll throw you the ball" and "I'll throw the ball to you" are related by dative shift.

2. (linguistics) Of a language, dialect, or specific verb, a feature where indirect objects can be given not only in prepositional phrases, but alternatively as core arguments.

   English "to donate" exhibits dative shift only in some dialects; while "I donate clothes to them" is universally accepted, some dialects reject "I donate them clothes" as ungrammatical, or at least unnatural-sounding.