What are Indirect Objects?
An indirect object answers the question 'To whom?' or 'For whom?' after a ditransitive verb — a verb that takes both a direct object and an indirect object. In 'She sent the team the report', 'the team' is the indirect object (to whom?) and 'the report' is the direct object (what?).
Most indirect objects appear with verbs of giving, sending, telling, showing, or making something for someone: give, send, tell, show, offer, teach, lend, buy, make, write, pay, owe. These verbs create a transfer of something (the direct object) from the subject to the indirect object.
English offers two ways to express the same indirect object relationship: the noun-order pattern (give him the file) and the prepositional pattern (give the file to him). Knowing when each sounds natural — and when one is required — is a key B1 skill.
Two Patterns for Indirect Objects
The indirect object can appear either between the verb and the direct object (with no preposition), or after the direct object using the preposition 'to' or 'for'. The choice depends on the verb, the length of the objects, and whether a pronoun is used.
Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object OR Subject + Verb + Direct Object + to/for + Indirect ObjectPattern 1 — Indirect Object First (noun-order)
| Subject | Verb | Indirect Object | Direct Object |
|---|---|---|---|
| She | gave | the client | the proposal. |
| He | sent | his manager | an update. |
| They | offered | the team | a bonus. |
Pattern 2 — Prepositional Phrase (to / for)
Move the indirect object to the end using 'to' (for recipients) or 'for' (for beneficiaries). This pattern is required when the indirect object is long or when the direct object is a pronoun.
| Subject | Verb | Direct Object | Prepositional Indirect Object |
|---|---|---|---|
| She | gave | the proposal | to the client. |
| He | sent | an update | to his manager. |
| She | bought | a gift | for her colleague. |
When a Pronoun is the Direct Object
When the direct object is a pronoun (it, them, one), the prepositional pattern is almost always required.
| Pattern | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Indirect first (with noun DO) | Give me the report. | Natural — noun direct object. |
| Prepositional (with pronoun DO) | Give it to me. | Required — pronoun direct object. |
| Awkward | Give me it. | Possible but uncommon in formal writing. |
Using Indirect Objects
Verbs of giving and transferring
The most common group: give, send, pass, hand, lend, offer, pay, owe, grant, award. These verbs describe moving something from the subject to the indirect object.
- The HR team sent all employees a reminder about the policy change.
- She lent her neighbour a ladder for the weekend.
- The committee awarded the winner a cash prize.
Verbs of communication
Tell, show, teach, read, write, and ask can take both a direct and an indirect object. These verbs transfer information or content to someone.
- Could you show me the updated schedule?
- She read the children a story before bed.
- He taught the new recruits the safety procedures.
For-beneficiary indirect objects
When the verb describes making, buying, cooking, or finding something on someone's behalf, 'for' is used in the prepositional pattern. The indirect object is a beneficiary — the subject performs the action on their behalf.
- He made his team a spreadsheet template.
- She bought her director a coffee before the meeting.
- They found the interns a suitable workspace.
Signals for Indirect Objects
Using 'to' vs 'for'
The choice between 'to' and 'for' in the prepositional pattern depends on the type of verb: 'to' is used for verbs of transfer (the thing goes to someone); 'for' is used for verbs of benefit (the action is done on someone's behalf).
Transfer verbs — use 'to'
She sent the files <hl>to</hl> the auditor.
Give, send, pass, offer, show, write, lend, pay → 'to'.
Benefit verbs — use 'for'
He reserved a seat <hl>for</hl> the new recruit.
Buy, make, cook, book, build, find, get, prepare → 'for'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'explain me' instead of 'explain to me'
✗ Can you explain me the difference?
Can you explain the difference to me?
'Explain' and 'describe' do not take the noun-order indirect object pattern. They always require 'to': 'explain X to someone', 'describe X to someone'. This mistake is extremely common at B1–B2 level.
Using wrong word order with pronoun direct object
✗ She gave to him it.
She gave it to him.
When the direct object is a pronoun (it, them, one), the prepositional pattern must be used: verb + pronoun DO + to/for + IO. The structure 'gave to him it' is not standard English.
Using 'for' with a transfer verb
✗ She sent the invitation for the client.
She sent the invitation to the client.
'Send' is a transfer verb — something goes from the subject to the recipient. Use 'to', not 'for'. 'For' would imply she sent it on the client's behalf, which changes the meaning.
Omitting the direct object with a ditransitive verb
✗ She told to him.
She told him the news. / She told him about the change.
Ditransitive verbs like 'tell' need both a direct and indirect object. 'Tell' also never takes 'to' in the noun-order pattern: 'She told him' (no 'to') or 'She told him the news'.
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