Today a friend of mine asked me to teach her how to fix her computer. The procedure was a little too technical for a layperson so I asked her out so that I can fix it for her in person, that she can avoid going through all the technical "trouble". I instinctively used the phrase "so you can save the trouble". In retrospect, I felt something was wrong with the phrase. However, on second thought, the sentence structure seemed quite similar to "so I can save you the trouble", both having "save" as the verb and "trouble" as the direct object.
Therefore, I'd like to ask, if this phrase is actually correct. What I want to know is an answer for whether the phrase is grammatically and semantically correct, instead of what other phrases may correctly express what I want to mean.
Best Answer
You need to place an indirect object after the verb "to save." This expression typically uses a ditransitive conjugation:
Whereas you should be able to move the indirect object on the other side of the direct object by saying, "Save some trouble for me," it doesn't work that way in expression. Saying it that way makes it sound like you actually want some trouble rather than have it prevented.