[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"grammar-page-en-verbs-with-two-objects-to-and-for":3,"grammar-exercises-by-page-01a0e1ab-d627-7249-805f-9514f407e8a4":23,"exercise-list-path-en-none":59},{"id":4,"title":5,"slug":6,"seoDescription":7,"content":8,"language":9,"level":10,"displayOrder":11,"grammarTopics":12,"createdAt":19,"updatedAt":20,"vocabularyLists":21,"readyImages":22},"01a0e1ab-d627-7249-805f-9514f407e8a4","Verbs with Two Objects: To and For","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.","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.\n\n## 1. Two ways to arrange the information\n\nWith verbs such as **give**, we can express the same basic meaning in two ways:\n\n:::example\nMaya gave **her neighbour** **a spare key**.\n\nMaya gave **a spare key** **to her neighbour**.\n\nIn both sentences, the neighbour received the key.\n:::\n\nThe 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.\n\n| Pattern | Order | Example |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Two objects | verb + person + thing | I sent **Leo** **a message**. |\n| With **to** | verb + thing + **to** + person | I sent **a message** **to Leo**. |\n| With **for** | verb + thing + **for** + person | I made **some tea** **for Leo**. |\n\nThe choice between **to** and **for** depends on the verb and the meaning.\n\n## 2. Use to for a receiver\n\nUse **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**.\n\n| Person first | Thing first |\n| --- | --- |\n| She gave **me a ticket**. | She gave **a ticket to me**. |\n| Can you lend **Anna your bike**? | Can you lend **your bike to Anna**? |\n| He showed **us the photos**. | He showed **the photos to us**. |\n| They teach **children English**. | They teach **English to children**. |\n\nThe second pattern is especially useful when we want to make the receiver clear or contrast different receivers.\n\n:::example\nI sent the booking details **to Sam**, not to Alex.\n:::\n\n## 3. Use for when someone benefits\n\nUse **for** when someone gets the benefit of an action. Common verbs that allow both patterns include **buy, make, cook, get** and **order**.\n\n:::example\n- I bought **my sister a scarf**. → I bought **a scarf for my sister**.\n- Ben made **us some sandwiches**. → Ben made **some sandwiches for us**.\n- We ordered **you a coffee**. → We ordered **a coffee for you**.\n:::\n\n**To** and **for** are not interchangeable. Sometimes both are possible, but the meaning changes.\n\n:::example\nI sent the parcel **to Nina**. → Nina was the receiver.\n\nI sent the parcel **for Nina**. → I posted it because Nina needed someone to do this for her; the receiver could be someone else.\n:::\n\n:::note\nNot 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.\n:::\n\n## 4. Choose the order with pronouns\n\nWhen the person is a short pronoun such as **me, you, him, her, us** or **them**, the person-first pattern is very common:\n\n- Please send **me the address**.\n- I'll make **you a sandwich**.\n\nWhen 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.\n\n:::example\n“Where's the key?” — “I gave **it to her**.”\n\n“Are these flowers for me?” — “Yes, I bought **them for you**.”\n:::\n\n:::tip\nUse **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.\n:::\n\n## 5. Avoid common pattern mistakes\n\nSome 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.\n\n| Incorrect | Correct |\n| --- | --- |\n| Please explain me the problem. | Please explain **the problem to me**. |\n| She described us the house. | She described **the house to us**. |\n| He said me hello. | He said **hello to me**. |\n\nNotice the difference between **say** and **tell**:\n\n- She **said something to me**.\n- She **told me something**.\n\n:::warning\nDo not add **to** or **for** between the two objects in the person-first pattern.\n\n✗ I gave her to the book.\n\n✓ I gave **her the book**.\n\n✓ I gave **the book to her**.\n:::\n\n## 6. A quick decision checklist\n\n1. **Check the verb:** does it allow two objects, like **give** or **buy**?\n2. **Choose the meaning:** a receiver often takes **to**; someone who benefits often takes **for**.\n3. **Choose the order:** **give someone something** or **give something to someone**.\n4. **Check pronouns:** normally use **give it to her** and **buy it for her**.\n5. **Remember fixed patterns:** **explain something to someone**, not **explain someone something**.","en","B1",74.54,[13],{"id":14,"name":15,"level":10,"language":9,"isCompleted":16,"completionPercentage":17,"totalExercises":18,"completedExercises":17},"01a0e1ab-d4d6-72c0-b1de-abba447041b8","Objects and verb complements",false,0,4,"2026-09-27T07:02:10+00:00","2026-10-14T10:40:29+00:00",[],[],[24,35,44,52],{"@id":25,"@type":26,"id":27,"grammarPage":28,"title":29,"instructions":30,"displayOrder":17,"type":31,"questionCount":32,"blankCount":33,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":34},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-e11e-7160-9e2f-838376c41b9f","GrammarExercise","01a0e1ab-e11e-7160-9e2f-838376c41b9f","\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_pages\u002F01a0e1ab-d627-7249-805f-9514f407e8a4","Verbs with Two Objects: To and For — Forms in Context","Choose the option that completes each sentence in context.","word_select",15,16,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_6cdfb3d7-775a-4892-a9ce-ae24a62971f4_hero.webp?v=1790492533",{"@id":36,"@type":26,"id":37,"grammarPage":28,"title":38,"instructions":39,"displayOrder":40,"type":41,"questionCount":42,"blankCount":42,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":43},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-e13f-7501-bbc2-17e47f1704e9","01a0e1ab-e13f-7501-bbc2-17e47f1704e9","Verbs with Two Objects: To and For — Build the Sentences","Arrange the word tiles to build each sentence. Leave out the extra word; keep capitals and punctuation in place.",1,"sentence_builder",12,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_a81f6c8f-36af-42a8-88cb-ea5e4c7bef03_hero.webp?v=1790492533",{"@id":45,"@type":26,"id":46,"grammarPage":28,"title":47,"instructions":48,"displayOrder":49,"type":50,"questionCount":18,"blankCount":17,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":51},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-e154-7729-848d-4555f72637c7","01a0e1ab-e154-7729-848d-4555f72637c7","Two Objects — Roles, Order and Meaning","Tap each tile, then tap the column it belongs in. Place every tile.",2,"word_sort","\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_9c0bb7a8-4930-4d5a-b70a-98851559077c_hero.webp?v=1790492533",{"@id":53,"@type":26,"id":54,"grammarPage":28,"title":55,"instructions":56,"displayOrder":57,"type":50,"questionCount":18,"blankCount":17,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":58},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-e15b-7b80-9870-f93eb33fc935","01a0e1ab-e15b-7b80-9870-f93eb33fc935","Two Objects — Fixed Patterns and Pronouns","Tap each tile, then tap its column. Follow the sorting rule on each board.",3,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_9800839d-3cf8-4061-ac90-83907db76e2e_hero.webp?v=1790492533",null]