Indirect Objects
Indirect Objects can be used in several ways.
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- Give some money to John.
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- Give some money to him.
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- Give it to John.
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- Give it to him.
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- Give John some money.
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- Give him some money.
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- Give John it. (not common)
- Give him it. (not common)
(In some very informal situations, you may hear people use this one.
Example: angry mother to child: Give me it right now!!)
Note the following:
| Lend me some money. | Lend some money to me. |
| Bring me a cup of coffee. | Bring a cup of coffee to me. |
| Get me a cup of coffee. | Get a cup of coffee for me. |
| Make me a cup of coffee. | Make a cup of coffee for me. |
| Ask him a question. | Ask a question of him. |
| Tell her a story. | Tell a story to her. |
With Verbs
| Let me do it. | Allow me to do it. |
| Help me do it. | Help me with it. |
| Do it for me. | Have him do it. |
| Expect him to do it. | Make him do it. |
| Force him to do it. | Ask her to do it. |
| Tell her to do it. | Tell a story to her. (Request) |
| Tell her to do it. (Command) |
Direct Object and Indirect Object Patterns
| Pattern A | Pattern B | Pattern C |
| I gave him an apple. | I gave an apple to him. | I bought a car for her. |
| I bought her a car. | I opened the door for her. | |
| I asked him a question. | I explained it to him. |
Pattern A and B
- write, read, show, teach, tell, sell, send, lend, bring, take, pass, give
Pattern A and C
- buy, get, make, find, do, bake, cash, save
Pattern A only
- ask, cost, charge, wish
Pattern B only
- explain, announce, describe, introduce, mention, prove, repeat, say, speak, report
(When used with for, has the meaning of “on behalf of”)
Pattern C only
- open, answer, close, change, pronounce, prescribe
All patterns
- sing
None of the patterns
- eat, sleep, talk, walk, and most other verbs
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