In this way stories were passed on from one person to another.
《高中英语重点·难点纵横谈》(二)(中国科技大学出版社,p.202)对上面的句子作了如下注释：
“[注意]pass on 是短语动词(v. + adv.), 既然 on 是副词, 不可以 pass on sth. to sb., 而必须 pass sth. on to sb.。下面一句就是错句：
Pass on the letter to your manager, please. （请将这封信交给你的经理。）
应为: Pass the letter on to your manager.
例: I passed on the message to John immediately I got it. (错) （我一得到这信息马上就传给约翰。)
应为: I passed the message on to John ...”
您也认为 Pass on the letter to your manager, please. 是个错句吗？
大家知道,当短语动词的宾语是名词时,下面两种结构都是正确的:1) 动词 + 副词 + 名词(宾语),2) 动词 + 名词(宾语) + 副词。当短语动词的宾语是代词时,则只能采用一种结构:动词 + 代词(宾语) + 副词。因此,pass on sth. to sb. 和 pass sth. on to sb. 都是正确的。我们没有根据把 Pass on the letter to your manager, please. 判为错句。我们有大量的实例证明它是正确的:
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She passed on the information to her boss. (EDFS) 她把信息传给了她的上司。
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Pass on the information to your co-worker. (WDAE) 把这个信息传给你的同事。
注意,当宾语为代词时,则必须采用 pass it(them) on to 的结构:
I received your message, and have passed it on to all those whom it concerns. 我已收到你的信息，并已传给了一切有关的人。