Verb patterns with two objects
Some transitive verbs take two objects – a direct object and an indirect object. In this case, the direct object usually refers to a thing and indirect object refers to a person.
Examples of common verbs that take two objects are: give, take, tell, ask, offer, make, get, sell, buy, and teach.
Two verb patterns are possible.
Indirect object before direct object
| Subject | Transitive verb | Indirect object | Direct object |
| The teacher | asked | him | a question. |
| The boy | bought | me | some apples. |
| He | told | me | a story. |
| She | showed | me | the photo. |
| I | sent | him | the message. |
| They | offered | him | a good job. |
| She | gave | me | her laptop. |
| I | handed | him | the letter. |
| I | made | him | coffee. |
Direct object before indirect object
In this case, we put the preposition to or for before the indirect object.
| Subject | Transitive verb | Direct object | Preposition | Indirect object |
| The teacher | asked | a question | to | him |
| The boy | bought | some apples | for | me |
| He | told | a story | to | me |
| She | showed | the photo | to | me |
| I | sent | the message | to | him |
| They | offered | a good job | to | him |
| She | gave | her laptop | to | me |
| I | handed | the letter | to | him |
| I | made | coffee | for | her |
