1. Some verbs have two objects –an indirect object and a direct object:

Subject    Verb    Indirect object     Direct object   
My wife    sent    me    an email   
He    brought    his mother    some flowers   
He    cooked    all his friends    a delicious meal   

These clauses have the structure: V + N (indirect object) + N (direct object)

2. We can use a prepositional phrase with to or for with an indirect object:

Subject    Verb    Direct object     Prepositional phrase   
My wife    sent    an email    to me   
He    brought    some flowers    for his mother   
He    cooked    a delicious meal    for all his friends.   

These clauses have the structure : V + N (direct object) + Prepositional phrase (indirect object)

3. Common verbs with for and an indirect object are:

• book
• buy
• get
• cook
• keep
• bring
• make
• pour
• save
• find

They booked a table for me at the restaurant.
We made toys for all the children.

4. Common verbs with to and an indirect object are:

• give
• lend
• offer
• pass
• post
• read
• sell
• send
• show
• promise
• tell

He gave his programme to the man sitting next to him.
They sent Christmas cards to all their customers.

5. If the indirect object is a long phrase we normally use to or for:

He showed his ticket to the policeman standing by the door.
We kept something to eat and drink for all the people who arrived late.

6. If the indirect object is a pronoun we normally use the N + V + N + N pattern:

I poured him another drink.
Their mother read them another story.

Exercise

Exercise