3 Direct and indirect objects
A Introduction
Henry gave Claire some flowers. Here the verb Henry gave some flowers to Claire. Here give
give has two objects. Claire is the indirect object, has a direct object (some flowers) and a phrase
the person receiving something. Some flowers is with to. To comes before Claire, the person
the direct object, the thing that someone gives. receiving something.
Here are some more examples of the two structures.
INDIRECT OBJECT DIRECT OBJECT
DIRECT OBJECT PHRASE WITH TO/FOR
Emma gave Rachel a CD.
I'll send my cousin a postcard. Emma gave the CD I'll to Rachel.
We bought all the children an ice-cream. send a postcard We to my cousin.
bought ice-creams for all the children.
B To or for?
We give something to someone, and we buy something for someone.
We can use to with these verbs: bring, feed, give, hand, lend, offer, owe, pass, pay,
post, promise, read, sell, send, show, take, teach, tell, throw, write
Vicky paid the money to the cashier, OR Vicky paid the cashier the money. Let
me read this news item to you. OR Let me read you this news item. We showed
the photos to David, OR We showed David the photos.
We can use for with these verbs: book, bring, build, buy, choose, cook,
fetch, find, get, leave, make, order, pick, reserve, save
They found a spare ticket for me. OR They found me a spare ticket.
I've saved a seat for you. OR I've saved you a seat.
Melanie is making a cake for David, OR Melanie is making David a cake.
C Give + pronoun
Sometimes there is a pronoun and a noun after a verb such as give.
The pronoun usually comes before the noun.
Henry is very fond of Claire. He gave Henry bought some flowers. He gave
her some flowers. them to Claire.
We use her because Claire is mentioned earlier. Her We use them because the flowers are mentioned
comes before some flowers. earlier. Them comes before Claire.
3
3 Exercises
l Give (A)
Look at the Christmas presents and write sentences about them.
Put one of these words at the end of each sentence: necklace, scarf, sweater, tennis racket, watch
► Harriet gave Mike a watch.
Indirect object or to? (A)
Write the information in one sentence. Put the underlined part at the end of the sentence.
Sometimes you need to.
? Daniel lent something to Vicky. It was his calculator. —> Daniel lent Vicky his calculator.
? Mark sent a message. It was to his boss. —> Mark sent a message to his boss.
1 Emma sold her bike. Her sister bought it. —> Emma
2 Tom told the joke. He told all his friends. —> Tom ...................
3 Melanie gave some help. She helped her neighbour. —► Melanie
4 Ilona wrote to her teacher. She wrote a letter. —> Ilona ................................................
3 To or for? (B)
Mark's boss at Zedco is Mr Atkins. He is telling people to do things. Put in to or for.
? Give these papers to my secretary. 3 Don't show these plans anyone.
? Could you make some coffee for us? 4 Leave a message my secretary.
1 Book a flight me, could you? 5 Fetch the file me, could you?
2 Can you post this cheque . . t h e hotel? 6 Write a memo all managers.
4, Give + pronoun (C)
Complete each answer using the words in brackets. Sometimes you need to use to or for.
? Matthew: Why is everyone laughing? (a funny story / us)
Vicky: Daniel told us a funny story.
? Trevor: There's some fish left over, (it / the cat)
Laura: I'll feed it to the cat.
1 Mark: What are you doing with those bottles? (them / the bottle bank)
Sarah: I'm taking .......................................................................................................
2 Trevor: How are things with you, Daniel? (a job / me)
Daniel: Fine. Someone has offered .......................................................................................................
3 David: What about those papers you found? (them / the police)
Tom: Oh, I handed
4 Emma: It's pouring with rain, look, (my umbrella / you)
Rachel: It's OK. I'll lend ..........................................................................................................
