Page 93 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

V e r b + + t w o o b j e c t s
objects
Verb
two

verbs are followed by two objects. Usually the first object is a person (or group of people)
Some
Some verbs are followed by two objects. Usually the first object is a person (or group of people)
the second object is a thing:
and the second object is a thing:
and
Can you bring me (= object 1) some milk (= object 2) from the shops?
• ¢ Can you bring me (= object 1) some milk (= object 2) from the shops?
I made him (= object 1) a cup of coffee. (= object 2)
• ¢ I made him (= object 1) a cup of coffee. (= object 2)
many verbs that can have two objects, we can reverse the order of the objects if we put for
With
With many verbs that can have two objects, we can reverse the order of the objects if we put for
to before object 1 (this is then called a prepositional object). Compare:
or or to before object 1 (this is then called a prepositional object). Compare:
They built us a new house. and They built a new house for us.
• ¢ They built us a new house. and • ¢ They built a new house for us.
Can you give that bandage to me?
Can you give me that bandage?
• * Can you give me that bandage? and • ¢ Can you give that bandage to me?
and
for/to.
We
object
after
often
if we want to
focus
this pattern
use
on
the
particular
attention
We
We often use this pattern if we want to focus particular attention on the object after for/to. We
also use it if object 1 is a lot longer than object 2:
also use it if object 1 is a lot longer than object 2:
Jasmin taught music to
large
{not Jasmin taught a
a large number of children at the school,
• * Jasmin taught music to a large number of children at the school. (not Jasmin taught a large
music.)
number of children at the school music.)
number of children at the school
for all the students who were doing her Shakespeare course.
Judith booked theatre tickets
• ¢ Judith booked theatre tickets for all the students who were doing her Shakespeare course.
all the students who were doing her Shakespeare course theatre tickets.)
(not Judith booked
(not Judith booked all the students who were doing her Shakespeare course theatre tickets.)
use for + object with verbs such as book, build, buy, catch, choose, cook, fetch, find, make,
We
We use for + object with verbs such as book, build, buy, catch, choose, cook, fetch, find, make,
save. We use to + object with verbs such as award, give, hand, lend, offer, owe,
order, pour,
order, pour, save. We use to + object with verbs such as award, give, hand, lend, offer, owe,
pass, show, teach, tell, throw.
pass, show, teach, tell, throw.
fir play, post,
play, post,
In With some other verbs we can use either to or for, including bring, leave, pay, g:
With some other verbs we can use either to or for, including bring, leave, pay, g:
send,
Sometimes
little
write.
take,
there
meanin
very
in
sing,
difference
is
read,
read, send, sing, take, write. Sometimes there is very little difference in meanin
me.
piece
for)
played the
He
to
of music
(or
• ¢ He played the piece of music to (or for) me.
Can you sing that song again to (or for) us.
• ¢ Can you sing that song again to (or for) us.
however, there is a difference. Compare:
Often,
Often, however, there is a difference. Compare:
$£, Ann didn't have time to
• * Itooksome apples a • ¢ Ann didn't have time to
I took some apples “*
to my sister. ffij Jjf^ - take her library books
fii$-—— + (Pr
take her library books
to my sister.
back, so I took them for her.
~ “ye back, so I took them for her.
oA few other verbs that are followed by two objects cannot have their objects reversed with for/to:
«A few other verbs that are followed by two objects cannot have their objects reversed with for/to:
(but not We
lifestyle for/to him.)
lifestyle,
We
envied him
all envied his
all
his
• * • ¢ We all envied him his lifestyle. (but not We all envied his lifestyle for/to him.)
ask,
refuse.
deny,
cost,
guarantee, permit,
forgive,
allow,
include
Other verbs like this
Other verbs like this include allow, ask, cost, deny, forgive, guarantee, permit, refuse.
a second object if this is a prepositional object with to:
Some verbs can only have a second object if this is a prepositional object with to:
Some verbs can only have

suspect
his
explained
the
procedure.
crime.
confessed
The
They
• ¢ They explained the procedure. / / • ¢ The suspect confessed his crime. / /
They explained me the procedure.
The suspect confessed the police his crime.
X
X
• ° They explained me the-procedure. X / • ¢ The suspect confessed the police his crime: X /
‘point out, prove, report, say, suggest. only have a second object if this is a prepositional object
police.
confessed
crime to the
suspect
the procedure
to
his
The
explained
They
me.
• * The suspect confessed his crime to the police. /
• ¢ They explained the procedure to me. /

demonstrate,
describe, introduce, mention,
admit, announce,
like this include
r oOther verbs like this include admit, announce, demonstrate, describe, introduce, mention,
Other verbs
WU
•point out, prove, report, say, suggest.
verbs
collect,
mend and raise can
The verbs collect, mend and raise can only have a second object if this is a prepositional object
The
for:
with
with for:
He raised a lot of money for charity,
(not He raised charity a
lot of money.)
• * He raised a lot of money for charity. (not He raised charity a lot of money.)
Verbs with and without objects =

Vatbs with and without objeds =>