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Hints on Verbs Usage: Direct/Indirect Objects. Carmela Grillone FAO International Consultant. Direct and Indirect Objects. Many verbs can be followed by 2 objects 1 direct, the object 1 indirect, the person I gave my brother a present for his birthday Can you send me an email ?
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Hints on Verbs Usage: Direct/Indirect Objects Carmela Grillone FAO International Consultant
Direct and Indirect Objects • Many verbs can be followed by 2 objects • 1 direct, the object • 1 indirect, the person • I gavemy brothera presentfor his birthday • Can you sendme an email? • I want to makeyousome coffee
Common Verbs • Offer • Owe • Pass • Pay • Play • Promise • Read • Refuse • Send • Show • Sing • Take • Teach • Tell • Wish • Write • Bring • Buy • Cost • Get • Give • Leave • Lend • Make
Two Pronouns Generally the indirect object comes last • Give it to me • Send some to him but it’s possible to put it first • Give her one • Send him some
Indirect Object Indirect object can come after the direct object • He sent some flowers to the girl whom he met during the conference • She bought that present for you, not for me
Particular Cases:Explain, Suggest, Describe I’d like him to explain his decision to us (not to explain us his decision) Can you suggest a good restaurant to me? (not Can you suggest me a good restaurant?) Please describe your sister to us (not Please describe us your sister)
1 or 2 objects • I asked Jane • I asked a question • I asked Jane a question • Teach, tell, pay, show, sing, play and write • sing, play and write: put TO before the indirect object • Sing her a song • Sing to her (Not sing her) • Write me a letter • Write to me when you get home (Write me..possible in American English)
Say and Tell • Jack said, “What a nice idea!” Not Jack told us, What a nice idea!” After tell we usually say WHO is told • She told me that she would be late Say is often used WITHOUT a personal object • She said that she would be late • Neither say nor tell can be introduce indirect questions • Mahmoud asked whether I wanted to watch a movie () not Mahmoud said/told…)