verb pattern

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diteveka

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:cry: Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp! Is it ok if I say to offer sb to do sthg
 
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corum

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:cry: Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp! Is it ok if I say to offer sb to do sthg

She offered her husband, who is a plumber, to stop the leakage at the neighbor's.
She offered her husband to stop the leakage.
She offered him.
 
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Barb_D

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Sorry, I don't understand your sentences.

She offered whose husband? She offered him what?
 

corum

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She offered his husband's services to the neighbors.
 

Barb_D

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Ah. Gotcha. Her husband's, not his husbands.

I can't say that it reads very naturally. We might offer our spouse's services, but I can't really say we offer our spouse. I can't really go along with this one.
 

corum

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Her husband's, not his husbands.
:oops:

What would be your answer to the OPs question?
 

Barb_D

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I don't like to say "Impossible!" because someone can always come up with something.

It doesn't sound like a natural pattern to me right now.

In my opinion, with "offer" what should follow immediately after the verb is what you are offering.

I offered my husband's plumbing expertise. I offered to lend her my black dress.

The "to" that would come next isn't an infinitive of purpose ("to fix the leaks") but the recipient of the services.

I offered my husband's plumbing expertise to my neighbor to help her with her leaky kitchen sink.

I offered the job to the best candidate.

However, if you can think of more sentences, let's see if we can fine one in that pattern that does sound natural.
 

corum

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I don't like to say "Impossible!" because someone can always come up with something.

Agreed. Impossible can be a very dangerous word in this forum. :)
 
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