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I came across this sentence in the basic kanji book

> くつ **を** 一足とくつ下を四足買いました

The sentence has two を particles even though I thought the を particles can
only be used once in a sentence. I thought since the と particle connects two
nouns together it would look like this:

> くつの一足 **と** くつ下の四足を買いました

Is this not possible or is the whole grammar wrong? Why is it like that?
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2017-07-20T14:36:00.487
50565
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2017-07-23T13:38:34.093
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question
grammar particle-と particle-を
Why is the を particle used twice here
This を particle does not necessarily represent the object marker. Let's
explore why.

> くつを一足 (one pair of shoes)

This を is used in connection with counters. It does not necessarily indicate a
direct object here. According to the answer found
[here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/8165/22352) (and
[here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/17832/22352)), when working with
counters, you can use the following structure:

> (Noun) (Particle) (Number + Counter) (Verb/Verb Phrase)

But where is the verb in this case? So far, we have `Noun を Number + Counter`
but no Verb. This is because there is yet another noun used in relation to the
verb. (You aren't just buying a pair of shoes, you're also buying a pair of
socks.)

The key here is the fact that there is a と in this sentence. In this case, と
is used for making a list--translated to `and` in this case.

I want to make a special note that `くつを一足` is a noun phrase. In other words,
it acts like a single noun in terms of sentence creation. The same goes with
`くつ下を四足.` These both combine to be the direct object. This grammar structure
is not uncommon, as you will see in the other answers above, but a good rule
of thumb goes like this:

> (Noun) (Particle) (Number + Counter) と (Noun) (Particle) (Number + Counter)
> (repeat if necessary)+ (Verb/Verb Phrase)
>
> くつを一足とくつ下を四足 + Verb Phrase (one pair of shoes and four pairs of socks + verb
> phrase)

So what's the direct object? In this case, it's the part of the sentence just
above in yellow. `One pair of shoes, and four pairs of socks` is our direct
object.

We are combining two different ideas into one sentence here:

> くつを一足買いました。
>
> くつ下を四足買いました。

Putting it together, we can either say:

> くつを一足とくつ下を四足買いました。
>
> くつ下を四足とくつを一足買いました。

Should we include the counters as part of the direct object? Well a direct
object applies to a noun. The phrase `noun+number+counter` is a noun phrase,
acting as a noun. So I would say yes.

Hope it helps.
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answer
Your version is possible, but we don't usually say it in that way.

> くつを一足とくつ下を四足買いました。
>
> 一足のくつと四足のくつ下を買いました。

These two are natural.

When we say '一足買いました,' this 一足 is an adverb. In other words, we don't buy
something named '一足'.

> くつを **一足** 買いました。[一足 in 一足買う is an **_adverb_** ]
>
> **一足の** くつを買いました。[一足の is an **_adjective_** ]

* * *

[Edit to add]  
I've noticed I haven't answered the title question.

> **Why is the を particle used twice here**

That is because each of these nouns (くつ and くつ下) is needed to be indicated as
the object of the verb.  
I parse the sentence as two **_adverb phrases_** connected with と.

> [くつを一足 ( _adv_ )] と [くつ下を四足 ( _adv_ )] 買いました。

When we have two items as the subject of a verb, we say

> くつが一足 と くつ下が四足 あります。

くつを一足 or くつが一足 alone doesn't stand very good as a noun to native's ears, and
is needing a verb.

▶ You can also say it as follows; without the particle in the middle,
くつ一足、くつ下四足, they become nouns, and you need the particle, を, once, right after
the whole phrase.

> くつ一足とくつ下四足(と)を買いました。[the second と is usually omitted]

But when it's くつを 一足 買いました, this 一足 is an adverb modifying the verb, 買いました.

> _Cf:_ 「子供が３人遊んでいる」「夏休み中に小説を10 冊読んだ」の中の数量名詞も、その働きは副詞的である。  
>  (Source: 日本語教師のページ |
> [名詞の副詞的用法](http://www.nihongokyoshi.co.jp/manbow/manbow.php?id=930&TAB=1))
>
> Also see: [How to say "a year has 12
> months"?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/50292/how-to-say-a-
> year-has-12-months/50293#50293)
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answer