Verbs with two objects

Direct and indirect objects Some of these verbs are bring, buy, cook, find,
get, give, lend, make, offer, pass, promise, read,
The direct object typically answers the question sell, send, show, tell, and write.
of ‘what’ or ‘who’.
After these verbs, there are two possible
 I bought a nice sweater. structures:
 What did you buy?
 I saw Peter and Sarah. I sent my friends a picture.
 Who did you see?
I sent a picture to my friends.
The indirect object typically answers the question
‘to whom’ or ‘for whom’. If the indirect object is a pronoun (me, you, him,
her, etc.), we normally use it next to the verb.
 I sent my friends a picture of the house.
 Who did you send a picture to? I sent them a picture.
 I cooked my wife breakfast.
 Who did you cook breakfast for? To or for?

Verbs with two objects When we use the indirect object next to the verb,
we do not use to or for.
There are some verbs which have two objects: an
indirect object and a direct object.  I send to Alex a postcard.
 I send Alex a postcard.
We use to or for in: verb + direct object + to/for +  You should give an apology to Tom.
indirect object.  She showed the letter to all her friends.

 I sent a postcard to Alex. For + indirect object

 She bought a present for her friend.
Some common verbs that are used with for +
Some verbs are used with to, and some other indirect object are bring, buy, cook, find,
verbs are used with for before the indirect object. get, and make.

To + indirect object  Can you bring some food for the dog?
 I’ll cook a nice dinner for you.
Some common verbs that are used with to +
indirect object are give, lend, offer, pass,
promise, read, sell, send, show, tell, and write.
Exercise 1
Choose the correct options to complete these sentences.

1I sent him a postcard.

➪ If the indirect object is a pronoun (me, you, him, her, etc.), we normally use it next to the verb.
➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'I sent a postcard to him.'
2I wrote a letter to him .

➪ With verbs with two objects, we can use the structure verb + direct object (a letter) + to/for + indirect
object
➪ In the case of the verb write, we should use to (NOT for) before the indirect object
3Have you brought me a cake ?

➪ We could also say: 'Have you brought a cake for me?'

4They offered me a discount .

➪ If the indirect object is a pronoun (me, you, him, her, etc.), we normally use it next to the verb.
➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'They offered a discount to me.'
5Pass our guest the biscuits , please.

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'Pass the biscuits to our guest.'
6She made a bracelet for her sister .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with for + indirect object are: bring, buy, cook, find, get, make.
➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'She made her sister a bracelet.'
7She taught me a lesson.

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
8I cooked some pasta for the children .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with for + indirect object are: bring, buy, cook, find, get, make.
➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'I cooked the children some pasta.'
9I never lend anyone money .

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'I never lend money to anyone.'
10If you have any questions, give me a call .

➪ If the indirect object is a pronoun (me, you, him, her, etc.), we normally use it next to the verb.
➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.

Exercise 2
Choose the correct options to complete these sentences.
1He showed _____.
 a. the police a video of the robbers.correct
 b. to the police a video of the robbers.
 c. a video of the robbers for the police

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'He showed a video of the robbers to the police.'
2They promised _____.

 a. to their daughter a new car

 b. a new car their daughter
 c. their daughter a new carcorrect

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'They promised a new car to their daughter.'
3We should get ______ for her birthday.

 a. her a presentcorrect
 b. a present her
 c. for her a present

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'We should get a present for her.'
4They found _____.

 a. a place to stay me
 b. me a place to staycorrect
 c. to me a place to stay

➪ If the indirect object is a pronoun (me, you, him, her, etc.), we normally use it next to the verb.
➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say, 'They found a place to stay for me.'
5She gave ______.

 a. to the waiter a generous tip

 b. the waiter a generous tipcorrect
 c. a generous tip the waiter

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'She gave a generous tip to the waiter.'
6You should tell _____.

 a. to the police the truth

 b. the police the truthcorrect
 c. the truth for the police
 ➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'You should tell the truth to the police.'
7He reads _____ every night.

 a. them a storycorrect
 b. to them a story
 c. a story them

➪ If the indirect object is a pronoun (me, you, him, her, etc.), we normally use it next to the verb.
➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say, 'He reads a story to them every night.'
8She brought _____.

 a. a cake me
 b. for me a cake
 c. a cake for mecorrect

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'She brought me a cake.'
9He has offered _____.

 a. to his brother a job

 b. a job his brother
 c. a job to his brothercorrect

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'He has offered his brother a job.'
10Send _____.

 a. a copy them
 b. to them a copy
 c. them a copycorrect

➪ When we use an indirect object next to the verb, we should not use to or for.
➪ We could also say: 'Send a copy to them.'

Exercise 3
Rewrite these sentences using the structure verb + direct object + to or for + indirect object.

EXAMPLE: I sent my friends a picture. ⇒ I sent a picture to my friends .

1She wrote her father a song. ⇒ She wrote a song to her father .
➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read,
sell, send, show, tell, write.
2Did you buy the children a present? ⇒ Did you buy a present for the children ?

➪ Some common verbs that are used with for + indirect object are: bring, buy, cook, find, get, make.
3He gave the clerk his card. ⇒ He gave his card to the clerk .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read,
sell, send, show, tell, write.
4I offered the police officer a drink. ⇒ I offered a drink to the police officer .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read,
sell, send, show, tell, write.
5I made my wife a cake. ⇒ I made a cake for my wife .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with for + indirect object are: bring, buy, cook, find, get, make.
6He sold his neighbour his apartment. ⇒ He sold his apartment to his neighbour .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise,
read, sell, send, show, tell, write.
7He lent me some money. ⇒ He lent some money to me .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read,
sell, send, show, tell, write.
8She sent her sister a letter. ⇒ She sent a letter to her sister .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read,
sell, send, show, tell, write.
9She read the audience a message. ⇒ She read a message to the audience .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read,
sell, send, show, tell, write.
10He showed the doctor his arm. ⇒ He showed his arm to the doctor .

➪ Some common verbs that are used with to + indirect object are: give, lend, offer, pass, promise, read,
sell, send, show, tell, write.