Indirect Objects
Listen to four conversations using the grammar point.
Answer the following questions about the interview.
Indirect Objects
Point 1 : The direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb directly. It answers the question "what?" or "whom?" after the verb.
- I bought a book.
- He gave some money.
- We helped her.
- She called me.
Point 2: The indirect object is the noun or pronoun that receives the direct object. It typically answers the question "for whom?" the action is done.
- She gave her friend a gift.
- He told the teacher a story.
- She baked her son a cake for his birthday.
- She taught him how to cook.
Point 3 : If the indirect object goes after the direct object it needs a preposition, which is 'to' and 'for' in most cases.
- She gave some money to him.
- The teacher read a story to the students.
- My father built a special bike for me.
- Our boss gave a demonstration to the staff.
Point 4 : In the indirect object goes before the direct object, then a preposition is not used.
- She gave him some money.
- The teacher read the students a story.
- My father built me a special bike.
- Our boss gave the staff a demonstration.
Point 5 : If both the direct object and the indirect object use a pronoun, then the indirect pronoun must appear last after a preposition.
- She gave it to me.
- I sent it to them.
- She gave them to us.
- He ordered it for me.
Point 6 : The direct object can use a phrase with a 'Wh-word' and an infinitive to express an action. It always follows the indirect object.
- Please tell me what to do.
- Please tell me the procedure for doing something.
- I showed him where to go.
- I showed him the directions.
- Please show me how to cook this.
- Please show me the way to cook this.
- They taught me how to make it.
- They taught me the way to make it.
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