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asking about causative object
Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 7:02 am
by googl
Excuse me, how do I should ask for the object in the causative "have sth. done" construct? If I will just reverse, there will some a question identical to the perfect object question: I will have sth. done and I will have done sth. How should I ask not to let ambiguity? Thanks in advance.
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 8:42 am
by Alan
Both are objects, but the second construction (will have done smth.) is not causative, since the object in a causative construction always precedes the past participle.
Does that answer your question?
causative object asking (continued)
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:27 am
by googl
I meant: how should I ask for this? If I would say "What will I have done?", will it mean asking in Future Perfect or in Future Simple Causative? How should I ask for the other one?
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 8:49 am
by Alan
There's no difference in the written form of the question, so the same words could represent either construction. When spoken, however, the two would be distinguished in that, in the future perfect construction 'done' would be stressed, while in the causative, 'have' and 'done' would be equally stressed.
In analytical terms, in the future perfect construction, 'what is the object of 'have done', whereas it is the object only of 'have' in the causative, with 'done' standing in a complemental role.
I hope that answers your question!