Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
other. In the examples you quote, Ivo, the meaning is exactly the same
and we can choose either formulation irrespective of the context.
When verbs are followed by two objects, the first object (the indirect
object) is usually a person or a group of people and the second object
(the direct object) is usually a thing:
It was kind of you to make the vicar and his wife a cup of coffee.
If we want to reverse the order and place the direct object first, then the
indirect object has to be converted into a phrase beginning with
either to or for:
It was kind of you to make a cup of coffee for the vicarand his
wife.
Here are some of the most common verbs with the for +
indirect object formulation:
book
build
buy
catch
choose
cook
find
get
make
order
peel
pour
save
He poured me a drink.
give
grant
hand
lend
offer
owe
tell
promise
pass
show
teach
throw
She told them a story about the children who had got lost
in the maze.
leave
pay
play
post
read
send
sing
take
write
Sometimes it changes:
Will you post it for me? I can't get to the post office this
afternoon.
ask
cost
deny
envy
forgive
permit
refuse
We cannot say: