Page 121 - BASIC GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Sentence structure

WORD ORDER

79 Direct object and indirect object
• In simple sentences the object is easy to see:
She hit him.
They took the money.
• Some verbs, however, have two objects:
She gave me the book. ( = she gave the book to me)
the book is the real object of this sentence. It tells us what she gave.
This is the direct object (D.O.)
me is the indirect object (l.O.)

FORM
• verb + direct object + to or for + indirect object:

D.O. l.O.
Give the money to him.
Buy a present for your mother.

a) Some common verbs Taking to: bring, give, lend, pay, promise, send,
show, take, tell.
b) Some common verbs taking for: buy, find, get, make.
verb + indirect object without to or for + direct object:
l.O. D.O.
Give him the money.
Buy your mother a present.

Note: that it is not possible to use the second form when the direct object is a pronoun
(me, her, him, it, etc]. The longer construction must be used:
Give it to John. (NOT Give John it.)

Practice

79a Rewrite these sentences without using to or for.

1 Give this food to your parents.
Give your parents this food.
2 Get an ashtray for me, please.
Get me an ashtray, please.

3 Have you sent a postcard to your family?

4 Did you pay the money to him?