indirect objects with to
3.76 If you want to put the indirect object in a phrase that begins with a preposition, you use the preposition to with some verbs, especially ones where the direct object is something that is transferred from one person to another.
Mr Schell wrote a letter the other day to the New York Times.
I had lent my apartment to a friend for the weekend.
I took out the black box and handed it to her.
Here is a list of verbs that can have an indirect object introduced by to:
accord
advance
award
bring
deal
feed
forward
give
grant
hand
lease
leave
lend
loan
offer
owe
pass
pay
play
post
quote
read
rent
repay
sell
send
serve
show
sing
take
teach
tell
write
indirect objects with for
3.77 If the action you are describing involves one person doing something that will benefit another person, you can use the preposition for to introduce the indirect object.
He left a note for her on the table.
He poured more champagne for the three of them.
She brought presents for the children.
Here is a list of verbs that can have an indirect object introduced by for:
book
bring
build
buy
cash
cook
cut
design
fetch
find
fix
get
guarantee
keep
leave
make
mix
order
paint
pick
play
pour
prepare
reserve
save
secure
set
sing
spare
take
win
write
3.78 Note that the verbs bring, leave, play, sing, take, and write are in both of the lists (3.76 and 3.77). That is because there are a few verbs that can take either to or for in front of the indirect object, depending on the meaning you want to express. For example, Karen wrote a letter to her boyfriend means that the letter was addressed to her boyfriend and was for him to read. Karen wrote a letter for her boyfriend means that her boyfriend wanted to send someone else a letter and Karen was the person who actually wrote it.
3.79 There are some verbs that take two objects where the indirect object almost always comes in front of the direct object rather than being introduced by to or for. For example, you say He begrudged his daughter the bread she ate and She allowed her son only two pounds a week. It would be very unusual to say She allowed two pounds a week to her son.
Here is a list of verbs that do not usually have their indirect object introduced by to or for:
allow
ask
begrudge
bet
cause
charge
cost
deny
draw
envy
forgive
grudge
promise
refuse
Note that wish can be used as this sort of verb when its direct object is a word or phrase like luck, good luck, or happy birthday.
3.80 When you use a passive form of a verb with two objects, either the direct object or the indirect object can become the subject. See 9.20 for full information.
3.81 When the subject and the indirect object refer to the same person, you can use a reflexive pronoun as the indirect object.
I’m going to buy myself some new clothes.
He had got himself a car.
He cooked himself an omelette.
Reflexive pronouns are explained in paragraphs 1.111 to 1.118.
verbs that usually have both a direct object and an indirect object
3.82 Most of the verbs listed above as verbs that take two objects can be used with the same meaning with just a direct object.
He left a note.
She fetched a jug from the kitchen.
However, the following verbs always or usually have both a direct object and an indirect object:
accord
advance
allow
deny
give
hand
lend
loan
show
tell
A few verbs can be used with the person who benefits from the action, or receives something, as the direct object.
I fed the baby when she woke.
I forgive you.
Here is a list of these verbs:
ask
envy
feed
forgive
pay
teach
Phrasal verbs: I sat down, She woke me up
3.83 There is a special group of verbs that consist of two or three words. These are called phrasal verbs. They consist of
He sat down.
The noise gradually died away.
The cold weather set in.
She looked after her invalid mother.
She sailed through her exams.
She fell down the steps and broke her ankle.
You may come up against unexpected difficulties.
I look forward to reading it.
Fame has crept up on her almost by accident.
By combining a verb and an adverb or preposition in this way, you can extend the usual meaning of the verb or create a new meaning, different from any that the verb has on its own. You cannot, therefore, always guess the meaning of a phrasal verb from the usual meanings of the verb and the adverb or preposition. For example, if someone says I give up they do not give anything to anyone, nor is there any upward movement involved.
In the case of a few phrasal verbs, the first part is not found independently as a verb at all. For example, there are phrasal verbs sum up, tamper with, and zero in on, but no verbs sum, tamper, or zero.