8月25日号：Direct objects and indirect objects

Many English verbs can take a direct object and an indirect object. A direct object is the person or thing that receives the action in the sentence.

An indirect object is the person or thing that receives the direct object. For example:

◆ I gave my friend some money.

In this sentence, some money

The indirect object is my friend because he is receiving the direct object, some money.

There are two structures for sentences that have both a direct object and an indirect object.

Structure 1: verb + indirect object + direct object

◆ I built my dog a dog house.

Structure 2: verb + direct object + to / fo + indirect object

◆ I showed my vacation pictures to my friends.

Generally speaking, to is just used to show the person or thing that receives the direct object.

◆ He sent a letter to the president of the company. (The president received the letter)

◆ I lent my car to my son. (My son received the car)

However, for is used when we do the action to help the other person or because the person can’t do the action.

◆ I cooked dinner for my wife because she was sick. (My wife couldn’t cook dinner because she was sick)

◆ I got a birthday present for my best friend. (My friend shouldn’t get a birthday present for himself)

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Ian先生プロフィール

英会話イーオン東京本社教務課コーディネーター。イーオン教師のトレーニングや英語セミナーを企画制作するカリスマ教師として活躍中。カリフォルニア大学バークレー校卒業。趣味は読書、料理、クラフトワーク。