Unit 95: Give me that book! Give it to me!
Master double object verbs: give / lend / send / show
A. give / lend / pass / send / show
After these verbs (give / lend etc.), there are two possible structures:
(give) something to somebody
• I gave the keys to Liz.
(give) somebody something
• I gave Liz the keys.
• I gave the keys to Liz.
(give) somebody something
• I gave Liz the keys.
B. (give) something to somebody
something
it
them
these flowers
my car
a postcard
them
it
them
these flowers
my car
a postcard
them
to somebody
to me
to her
to your mother
to a friend of mine
to us
to me
to her
to your mother
to a friend of mine
to us
• That's my book. Give it to me.
• These are Sue's keys. Can you give them to her?
• Can you give these flowers to your mother?
• Did you send a postcard to Kate?
• We've seen these photos. You showed them to us.
• These are Sue's keys. Can you give them to her?
• Can you give these flowers to your mother?
• Did you send a postcard to Kate?
• We've seen these photos. You showed them to us.
C. (give) somebody something
somebody
me
his mother
John
him?
you
us
me
his mother
John
him?
you
us
something
that book. It's mine.
some flowers.
some money.
a postcard. Did you receive it?
her holiday photos.
the salt, please?
that book. It's mine.
some flowers.
some money.
a postcard. Did you receive it?
her holiday photos.
the salt, please?
• Give me that book. It's mine.
• Tom gave his mother some flowers.
• How much money did you lend John?
• Linda showed you her holiday photos.
• Can you pass me the salt, please?
• Tom gave his mother some flowers.
• How much money did you lend John?
• Linda showed you her holiday photos.
• Can you pass me the salt, please?
You can also say 'buy / get somebody something':
• I bought my mother some flowers. (= I bought some flowers for my mother)
• Can you get me a newspaper when you go out? (= get a newspaper for me)
• Can you get me a newspaper when you go out? (= get a newspaper for me)
D. Compare:
• I gave the keys to Liz.
• That's my book. Can you give it to me?
• That's my book. Can you give it to me?
We prefer the first structure (give something to somebody) when the thing is it or them:
• I gave it to her. (not 'I gave her it')
• Here are the keys. Give them to your father. (not 'Give your father them')
• Here are the keys. Give them to your father. (not 'Give your father them')
give / lend / send / show + to
gave the keys to Liz
give them to her
send a postcard to Kate
give them to her
send a postcard to Kate
give / lend / send / show + somebody
gave Liz the keys
give me that book
lend John some money
give me that book
lend John some money
buy / get somebody something
bought my mother some flowers
get me a newspaper
get me a newspaper
95.1 Mark had some things that he didn't want. He gave them to different people.
1
2
3
4
5
6
- What did Mark do with the armchair? He gave it to his brother.
- What did he do with the tennis racket? .
- What happened to the books? .
- What about the lamp? .
- What did he do with the pictures? .
- And the ladder? .
95.2 You wanted to give presents to your friends. You decided to give them the things in the pictures.
1
2
3
4
5
6
- I gave Paul a book.
- I gave .
- I gave .
- I gave .
- I gave .
- I gave .
95.3 Write questions beginning Can you give me ...? / Can you pass me ...? etc.
- (you want the salt) Can you pass me the salt?
- (you need an umbrella) .
- (you want my address) .
- (you need ten pounds) .
- (you want some information) .
- (you want to see the letter) .
- (you want some stamps) .
95.4 Which is right?
- I gave to Liz the keys / I gave Liz the keys. (I gave Liz the keys is right)
- I'll lend to you some money if you want. / I'll lend you some money if you want.
- Did you send the letter to me? / Did you send me the letter?
- I want to buy for you a present. / I want to buy you a present.
- Can you pass to me the sugar, please? / Can you pass me the sugar, please?
- This is Ann's bag. Can you give it to her? / Can you give her it?
- I showed to the policeman my identity card. / I showed the policeman my identity card.