Page 93 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

V e r b + t w o o b j e c t s

Some verbs are followed by two objects. Usually the first object is a person (or group of people)
and the second object is a thing:
• Can you bring me (= object 1) some milk (= object 2) from the shops?
• I made him (= object 1) a cup of coffee. (= object 2)
With many verbs that can have two objects, we can reverse the order of the objects if we put for
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.
• Can you give me that bandage? and • Can you give that bandage to me?
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:
• Jasmin taught music to a large number of children at the school, {not Jasmin taught a large
number of children at the school music.)
• Judith booked theatre tickets for all the students who were doing her Shakespeare course.
(not Judith booked all the students who were doing her Shakespeare course theatre tickets.)
We use for + object with verbs such as book, build, buy, catch, choose, cook, fetch, find, make,
order, pour, save. We use to + object with verbs such as award, give, hand, lend, offer, owe,
pass, show, teach, tell, throw.
fir play, post,
In With some other verbs we can use either to or for, including bring, leave, pay, g:
read, send, sing, take, write. Sometimes there is very little difference in meanin
• He played the piece of music to (or for) me.
• Can you sing that song again to (or for) us.
Often, however, there is a difference. Compare:
• I took some apples $£, • Ann didn't have time to
to my sister. ffij Jjf^ take her library books
back, so I took them for her.

«A few other verbs that are followed by two objects cannot have their objects reversed with for/to:
• • We all envied him his lifestyle, (but not We all envied his lifestyle for/to him.)
Other verbs like this include allow, ask, cost, deny, forgive, guarantee, permit, refuse.

Some verbs can only have a second object if this is a prepositional object with to:

• They explained the procedure. / • The suspect confessed his crime. /
• They explained me the procedure. X • The suspect confessed the police his crime. X
• They explained the procedure to me. / • The suspect confessed his crime to the police. /

r oOther verbs like this include admit, announce, demonstrate, describe, introduce, mention,
•point out, prove, report, say, suggest.
The verbs collect, mend and raise can only have a second object if this is a prepositional object
with for:
• He raised a lot of money for charity, (not He raised charity a lot of money.)

Verbs with and without objects =