Twitter
RSS

Subscribe to Get Updates on Email

Enter your email address:

Direct and Indirect Objects

Direct and Indirect objects

A direct object refers to the person or thing affected by the action of the verb. It comes immediately after a
transitive verb.

An indirect object usually refers to the person who “benefit” from the action expressed in the verb. Someone
you give something to, or buy something for. It comes immediately after the verb.
eg) She gave me some flowers.
eg) She gave some flowers to me.

To or for?

We give something to someone, and we buy/do 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.

Examples:

My father brings me gifts.
____________________________________
I am feeding porridge to the baby.
____________________________________
I have given you a chance.
____________________________________
Could you hand me the towel?
____________________________________
She lent me her car.
____________________________________
I can offer you a good job.
____________________________________
She still owes me £3 000.
____________________________________
Pass me the salt, please.
____________________________________

I paid a hefty amount to him.
____________________________________
Is it OK if I post the cheque to you next week?
____________________________________
I promised my students a picnic.

____________________________________
The teacher is reading children a story.
____________________________________
I sold an old car to him.
____________________________________
I’ll send you a text message.
____________________________________
She has shown some pictures to me.
____________________________________
Shall I take my host family a gift?
____________________________________
I’ll teach a good lesson to them.
____________________________________
I’m throwing you a ball.
____________________________________
I write you a letter.
____________________________________

We can use for with these verbs: book, bring, build, buy, choose, cook, fetch, find, get, leave, make, order,
pick, reserve, save.

Examples:
I’ve booked you a seat.
____________________________________
She has brought a cake for us.
____________________________________
They are building us a house.
____________________________________

She buys us fruits.
____________________________________
I chose a pen for you.
____________________________________
My mother will cook us Chinese rice.
____________________________________
Fetch me some water to drink.
____________________________________
I’ll find you a good job.
____________________________________

Please get me something to drink.
____________________________________
Leave me some pizza.
____________________________________
She is making me coffee.
____________________________________
I ordered you fried fish.
____________________________________
Pick me a number.
____________________________________
I have reserved you a table.
____________________________________
My father is saving me money.
____________________________________

Comments (0)

Post a Comment