Possession "V n n" construction
Form
NP
Agent
Verb
NP
Owner
NP
Possession
Examples
Meaning
An Agent does something with respect to an Owner and its Possession.
Roles
Agent
The person that begins in possession of the Theme and causes it to be in the possession of the Recipient .
Owner
The entity that ends up in possession of the Theme.
Possession
The object that changes ownership.
Frames
Description
The form "V n n" can be used to describe a large range of events which involves an Owner having a Possession, and an Agent doing something with respect to the relation between Owner and Possession, as specified by its many sub-constructions. The notion of "possession" is understood broadly in this construction: it can be mean literally owning physical objects, having some knowledge, having a property or ability, being in a situation, etc.
Inherits from
Sub-constructions
He gave her a gold sovereign and a bottle of champagne as a farewell present.
The Government lent the party six camels.
We had to pay Aberdeen a fairly hefty ground rent.
Hill bought her a guitar for her birthday.
He's going to cook her a gourmet dinner.
He passed Miranda the paper.
He passed Miranda the paper.
We'll mail you a questionnaire.
The player told him the opposite.
I was showing Jack the view out there.
She taught her children good manners.
Nancy allowed herself a moment of despair.
The Government will refuse Banton a work permit.
The battle eventually won him an extra 200m in government funding.
Its treaty with Italy guaranteed the Vatican free water.
Something you write could lose somebody their job.
I'll get myself a cup of coffee.
I just wish him the best.
I envy these people their holiday bonhomie.