Give me that book! Give it to me!

This lesson explains how English handles verbs that take two objects (a recipient and a thing) and how to use object pronouns correctly in those structures.

• Some verbs can take both an indirect object (recipient) and a direct object (thing): Give John the report.
• You can either place the indirect object before the direct object (no preposition) or use a prepositional phrase with to/for: Give John the report = Give the report to John.
• When using pronouns, structure matters: prefer the prepositional form with pronouns for clarity (Give it to me).

Focus on word order and correct pronoun placement.

Remember these points when you form sentences with two objects:

• Use Verb + Indirect + Direct when the indirect object is a noun: Give Sarah the file.
• Use Verb + Direct + to/for + Indirect when you want to emphasize the thing or use a pronoun: Give the file to Sarah. Give it to me.
• When both objects are pronouns, the prepositional form is clearest: Give it to her (not *Give her it).

If in doubt, use the 'to' structure: Give the report to me.

Watch out for these universal errors when using double objects and pronouns:

• Placing objects in the wrong order (e.g., using the double-object order when clarity requires 'to'): Give the report me → incorrect; Give the report to me → correct.
• Using the wrong pronoun form: using subject pronouns instead of object pronouns (e.g., *Give John he the file).
• Mixing both structures incorrectly (e.g., Give it John → unclear or nonstandard).
• Forgetting the preposition 'to' or 'for' when the indirect object is after the direct object.

When unsure, rephrase with the preposition: Give the file to Maria.