Double object verbs (From the British Council website)
1. Some verbs have two objects –an indirect object and a direct object:
| Subject | Verb | Indirect object | Direct object |
| My wife | sent | me | an email |
| He | brought | his mother | some flowers |
| He | cooked | all his friends | a delicious meal |
These clauses have the structure: V + N (indirect object) + N (direct object)
2. We can use a prepositional phrase with to or for with an indirect object:
| Subject | Verb | Direct object | Prepositional phrase |
| My wife | sent | an email | to me |
| He | brought | some flowers | for his mother |
| He | cooked | a delicious meal | for all his friends. |
These clauses have the structure : V + N (direct object) + Prepositional phrase (indirect object)
3. Common verbs with for and an indirect object are:
- book
- buy
- get
- cook
- keep
- bring
- make
- pour
- save
- find
They booked a table for me at the restaurant.
We made toys for all the children.
4. Common verbs with to and an indirect object are:
- give
- lend
- offer
- pass
- post
- read
- sell
- send
- show
- promise
- tell
He gave his programme to the man sitting next to him.
They sent Christmas cards to all their customers.
5. If the indirect object is a long phrase we normally use to or for:
He showed his ticket to the policeman standing by the door.
We kept something to eat and drink for all the people who arrived late.
6. If the indirect object is a pronoun we normally use the N + V + N + N pattern:
I poured him another drink.
Their mother read them another story.