On the Double Object Construction in English and Modern Greek

Abstract

Modern Greek, like English, has double object constructions of the type Ed gave Sue a rose; in Modern Greek, the recipient in this construction appears in the genitive case, but like an accusative object can correspond to a verbal clitic. In Modern Greek, the range of semantic roles (theta-roles) that can appear as subject is more restricted than in English, but the range of semantic roles that can appear as object (in the position of Sue) is broader than in English, encompassing in particular Source expressions (cf. */ borrowed John some money) and Benefactive expressions where the Patient is not itself intended as to the benefit of the Benefactive (cf. *Peter opened the old lady a door) — Modern Greek literal translations of both these examples are grammatical.