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B1 · Intermediate

Verbs with Two Objects: To and For

Learn two-object verb patterns in English: when to use to or for, how to order people and things, and which verbs require a different sentence pattern.

By the flumi team About 5 min read
Practice exercises

Many verbs connect a thing with a person: you can give someone a key or make someone lunch. Learn when to put the person first, when to use to or for, and which verbs need a different pattern.

Two ways to arrange the information

With verbs such as give, we can express the same basic meaning in two ways:

Maya gave her neighbour a spare key.

Maya gave a spare key to her neighbour.

In both sentences, the neighbour received the key.

The thing is the direct object. In the first pattern, the person is the indirect object. In the second pattern, the person comes after a preposition.

Pattern Order Example
Two objects verb + person + thing I sent Leo a message.
With to verb + thing + to + person I sent a message to Leo.
With for verb + thing + for + person I made some tea for Leo.

The choice between to and for depends on the verb and the meaning.

Use to for a receiver

Use to with many verbs about passing things or information to someone. Common verbs that allow both patterns include give, send, lend, show, offer and teach.

Person first Thing first
She gave me a ticket. She gave a ticket to me.
Can you lend Anna your bike? Can you lend your bike to Anna?
He showed us the photos. He showed the photos to us.
They teach children English. They teach English to children.

The second pattern is especially useful when we want to make the receiver clear or contrast different receivers.

I sent the booking details to Sam, not to Alex.

Use for when someone benefits

Use for when someone gets the benefit of an action. Common verbs that allow both patterns include buy, make, cook, get and order.

  • I bought my sister a scarf. → I bought a scarf for my sister.
  • Ben made us some sandwiches. → Ben made some sandwiches for us.
  • We ordered you a coffee. → We ordered a coffee for you.

To and for are not interchangeable. Sometimes both are possible, but the meaning changes.

I sent the parcel to Nina. → Nina was the receiver.

I sent the parcel for Nina. → I posted it because Nina needed someone to do this for her; the receiver could be someone else.

Not every verb with for allows two objects. Say I opened the door for her, not I opened her the door in standard English. Learn the pattern with the verb.

Quick check

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1

Before the visitors arrived, the manager gave

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Choose the order with pronouns

When the person is a short pronoun such as me, you, him, her, us or them, the person-first pattern is very common:

  • Please send me the address.
  • I'll make you a sandwich.

When the thing is a pronoun such as it or them, normally put it straight after the verb and use to or for before the person.

“Where's the key?” — “I gave it to her.”

“Are these flowers for me?” — “Yes, I bought them for you.”

Use Give it to me as your normal pattern. You may hear Give me it in some varieties of English, but Give it to me is the safest choice across varieties.

Avoid common pattern mistakes

Some verbs do not allow the person-first pattern. With explain, describe and say, put the thing or information first and use to before the person.

Incorrect Correct
Please explain me the problem. Please explain the problem to me.
She described us the house. She described the house to us.
He said me hello. He said hello to me.

Notice the difference between say and tell:

  • She said something to me.
  • She told me something.

Do not add to or for between the two objects in the person-first pattern.

✗ I gave her to the book.

✓ I gave her the book.

✓ I gave the book to her.

A quick decision checklist

  1. Check the verb: does it allow two objects, like give or buy?
  2. Choose the meaning: a receiver often takes to; someone who benefits often takes for.
  3. Choose the order: give someone something or give something to someone.
  4. Check pronouns: normally use give it to her and buy it for her.
  5. Remember fixed patterns: explain something to someone, not explain someone something.

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Last updated October 14, 2026