Meaning of dative shift | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Relocation of the indirect object of a ditransitive verb from a prepositional phrase to a core argument or vice versa.
2. 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.

Examples

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

“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.”

CEFR level