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