I gave my teacher my homework.
Verbs with Two Objects (Indirect + Direct)
How to use double-object verbs (give, send, buy, show, make, etc.), choose to/for, place pronouns, and form passives.
direct vs indirect
two patterns
to vs for
pronoun placement
verbs that don’t double-object
passive options
BasicsDirect vs Indirect Object
- Direct object (DO) = the thing affected → answers what?/who? I bought a notebook. · I met Anna.
- Indirect object (IO) = the receiver/beneficiary → answers to/for whom? I sent my friend a photo. · I made my sister tea.
Two patternsWord order
1) Verb + IO + DO — “double-object”
2) Verb + DO + to/for + IO — “prepositional”
I gave my homework to my teacher.
- Pronouns close to the verb: I gave him my number.
- Both objects are pronouns? Prefer the prepositional pattern: Show it to her. (“Show her it” is informal/dialectal.)
- Long/new information often goes last: She sent me a message with the new address.
TOReceiver / destination
give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read, sell, send, show, teach, tell, write
- He sent me an email. · He sent an email to me.
- She showed us the map. · She showed the map to us.
FORBeneficiary / purpose
bring, buy, build, cook, find, get, keep, make, order, save, reserve
- I bought my dad a book. · I bought a book for my dad.
- She made us sandwiches. · She made sandwiches for us.
ImportantVerbs that do not allow the double-object pattern
- Use only DO + to + IO with: announce, describe, explain, introduce, mention, report, suggest, confess, donate, say.
✗ Explain me this word. → ✔ Explain this word to me.
✗ She said me the time. → ✔ She told me the time. / She said (to me), “It’s 5 o’clock.”
PassiveBoth objects can become subject
- TO-verbs
Active: He sent me a link.
Passive 1: I was sent a link. · Passive 2: A link was sent to me. - FOR-verbs
Active: She made me a cup of tea.
Passive 1: I was made a cup of tea (BrE). · Passive 2: A cup of tea was made for me.
Common mistakesQuick fixes
- No preposition in the double-object order: ✗ I sent to her a photo. → ✔ I sent her a photo.
- Right preposition: ✗ buy … to → ✔ buy … for; ✗ send … for → ✔ send … to
- Both objects as pronouns? Prefer “Give it to me.”
Recap: Use IO + DO or DO + to/for + IO. Choose to for the receiver and for for the beneficiary. Keep pronouns close to the verb (or use the prepositional pattern if both are pronouns). Some verbs (e.g., explain, describe, say) require to and cannot take the double-object order.
Exercises:
Verbs with Two Objects (Indirect & Direct)
1
I explained the rules
.
2
Could you pass
the pepper?
3
She sent the link
on WhatsApp.
4
He bought
a coffee.
5
They offered
a ride to the station.
6
Please show
your ticket.
7
I described the suspect
.
8
Can you get
a glass of water?
9
We read a story
before bed.
10
The teacher asked
a difficult question.
Verbs with Two Objects (Indirect & Direct)
1
Please send ____ when you land.
A.
B.
C.
2
She told ____ not to worry.
A.
B.
C.
3
Please explain ____.
A.
B.
C.
4
Our teacher gave ____ for homework.
A.
B.
C.
5
I’ll make ____ after the meeting.
A.
B.
C.
6
Could you describe the man you saw ____?
A.
B.
C.
7
They offered ____ a lift to the airport.
A.
B.
C.
8
I wrote ____ a postcard from Rome.
A.
B.
C.
9
Can you read the instructions ____ again?
A.
B.
C.
10
The bank lent ____ when our car broke down.
A.
B.
C.
Verbs with Two Objects (Indirect & Direct)
Guide:
to = transfer (give, send, show, tell, write, read, sell, lend, pass, offer)
for = benefit (buy, make, cook, get, build, find, save, bake)
Some verbs don’t take double object: explain/describe/suggest sth to sb
1
She baked her friends some cookies. ⇒ She baked .
2
He sent his parents a postcard. ⇒ He sent .
3
They told the teacher the truth. ⇒ They told .
4
I bought my brother a ticket. ⇒ I bought .
5
We showed the guard our IDs. ⇒ We showed .
6
She gave the baby some water. ⇒ She gave .
7
He got me a coffee. ⇒ He got .
8
They wrote us a reminder. ⇒ They wrote .
9
Could you pass me the salt? ⇒ Could you pass ?
10
She made the children lunch. ⇒ She made .