Some verbs in the English language have two different kinds
of objects, and these objects are called direct and indirect objects. There are
two ways to make these types of sentences, either we use an indirect object
after a verb or a phrase with “to” or “for” after a direct object. Let’s have a
look at the following examples.
To, for or indirect
object
My friend sent me a lot of postcards.
My friend sent lot of postcards to me.
You saw, the first sentence has both direct and indirect
objects. “Me” is the indirect object, and “postcard” is the direct object. The
second sentence doesn’t have an indirect object, but it has a phase with “to”
after the direct object in place of indirect object.
Always remember that either we use an indirect object or a
phrase with “to” or “for” to make these types of sentences such as.
These both are
correct
We have bought ice-creams for all the children.
We have bought all the children an ice-cream.
Difference between
direct and indirect objects
Direct object:-
A direct object is usually a thing or things.
Example:-
We have bought all the children an ice-cream (direct
object)
Indirect object:-
An indirect object is usually a person or persons.
Example:-
We have bought all the children (indirect object) an ice-cream.
Verbs + Preposition
Sometimes a sentence contains a pronoun and a noun after a
verb. The pronoun usually comes before the noun. It happens, because we don’t
repeat the same noun again and gain. We always use pronoun instead of repeating
the same noun in the second sentence. Compare the difference in the following
examples.
1. He loves his son very much. He gave him a candy bar.
We use him because
his son is mentioned earlier.
Him comes before
a candy bar.
2. He bought a
candy bar. He gave it to his son.
We use it because
a candy bar is mentioned earlier.
It comes before his son
Note: -
if the direct object is a pronoun (it, this etc), it is always followed by a
verb and we must use a phrase with “to” or “for” such as, he bought a candy
bar. He gave it to his son. He
bought it for his son.
Verbs (Read and
Write)
We can only use a phrase with “to” after “read” and “write”
Example:-
- Let me read to you.
- You must write to your teacher.
Verbs (promise, tell
and show)
We can either use a indirect object or a phrase with “to”
Compare the examples
- I cannot promise you/ I can not promise it to you
- Show him/ show it to him
- Can you tell me?/ can you tell it to me?
A list of some verbs
that are used with “to” or “for”
We can use “to” with
these verbs: bring, feed, give, hand, lend, offer, owe, pass, pay, post,
promise, read, sell, send, show, take, teach, tell, throw, write
Some example:
- I write a letter to my father/ I write my father a letter
- Let me read this news item to you/let me read you this new item.
- She sold her bike to her brother/ she sole her brother her bike.
We can use “for” with
there verbs: book, bring, build, buy, choose, cook, fetch, find, get,
leave, make, order, pick, reserve, save
Some examples:
- Book a flight for me/ book me a flight
- I bought a new cell phone for my son/ I bought my son a new call phone.
- Leave a massage for my secretary/ leave my secretary a massage.
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