Elementary 📐 Grammar · #83 of 305

Direct Object and Indirect Object

Some verbs take two objects.

Examples

  • She gave him a gift.
  • She gave a gift to him.

Key rules

  • Some verbs take two objects: give, send, show, buy
  • Pattern 1: verb + indirect object + direct object: She gave him a gift
  • Pattern 2: verb + direct object + to/for + person: She gave a gift to him
  • Pronoun objects usually go before the preposition

Common mistakes

  • She gave to him a gift → She gave him a gift
  • She explained me the rule → She explained the rule to me
💡 Tip: Use to or for if the person comes after the thing.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Elementary quiz
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