Verbs with Two Object Patterns

Many English verbs can be followed by a direct and an indirect object. A number of these verbs have two patterns--one with and one without "to."

When a verb is followed by two nouns (V N₁ N₂), N₁ is the indirect object and N₂ is the direct object.

                IO        DO
John gave Mary a present.

With many verbs the indirect object can follow a prepositional phrase with "to," and the order of the two objects reversed.

John gave a present to Mary. (NOT John gave to Mary a present.)

Here is a list of common verbs which can be used with and without "to."

Another group of verbs uses this same pattern with "for" instead of "to."

          IO             DO
Mary made John a cake.

Mary made a cake for John. (NOT Mary made for John a cake.)

Here is a list of common verbs which can be used with and without "for."

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