Grammar-Quizzes.com

 PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

• Passive Summary
• Focus on Object
• By Phrases
• Focus Ind Object
• Never Passive
• Get-Passives
• Part Adj 1 -ed / -ing
• Part Adj 2 -ed / -ing
• Particpl & Prep
• Particpl + Prep Prac
• Particpl Phrases1
• Particpl Phrases2
• Been / Being
• In Context

Indirect Objects as Subjects

Placing Emphasis on the Receiver of the Action

 

 

 

Word Order

In standard word order, the Indirect object generally comes between the verb and the direct object.  

SUBJECT	VERB	INDIRECT OBJECT	DIRECT OBJECT	PHRASE
AGENT	ACTION	RECEIVER	THING (EXCHANGED)	REMAINDER OF SENTENCE
Barak Obama	gave	Congress	a speech	(that was) about hope.

 

If the indirect object occurs after the direct object, it usually uses a preposition such as to or for.

SUBJECT	VERB	DIRECT OBJECT	INDIRECT OBJECT	PHRASE
AGENT	ACTION	THING (EXCHANGED)	RECEIVER	REMAINDER OF SENTENCE
Barak Obama	gave	a speech	to Congress	(that was) about hope.

 

 

 

Switching Emphasis

1. Barack Obama delivered a bill to Congressional leaders.
2. Congress promised Veterans a new health plan.
3. Veterans gave praise to Barack Obama.

DIRECT OBJECT AS SUBJECT	INDIRECT OBJECT AS SUBJECT
This phrasing places emphasis on the the thing received.	This phrasing places emphasis on the receiver.
A  bill was delivered to Congressional leaders by Barack Obama.	Congressional leaders were delivered a bill by Barack Obama.
A new health plan was promised to Veterans by Congress	Veterans were promised a a new health plan by the government.
Praise was given to Barack Obama by the Veterans.	Barack Obama was given praise by the Veterans.

 

Verbs That Take an Indirect Object

The President   gave awarded wrote sold handed sent offered promised read lent provided served showed passed a letter to me.

 

 

give	write	hand	read	show
teach	tell	send	lend	pass
ask	charge	offer	provide	buy
award	sell	promise	serve	grant

 These are some, not all, of the "dative" verbs. Wikipedia  "The noun to whom something is given." (i.e. John gave Mary a book.)

 

 

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
The law was explained me by the officer.	The law was explained to me by the officer.
To me was asked several questions.	I was asked several questions.
The answer was said me by my friend.	The answer was said to me by my friend.

 

 

 

 

Practice

Bank Robbery - the Victims Tell All

 

 

 

Recount the story of this bank robbery: focus on the victim's experiences. 

Because the name of the robbers are often unknown (until they are caught) stories about robbery experiences often focus on the experiences of the victims.

1. Select the option that uses the indirect object as the subject.
2. Read the comment about each option.  (Internet Explorer users may need to click in the feedback box to force the text to appear.)

 

#	ACTIVE SENTENCE	PASSIVE SENTENCE	FEEDBACK
1.	First, the robbers handed me a note.	First, I was handed a note.     the robbers were handed a note.  the note was handed to me.	Feedback 1
2.	Then, a robber showed me his gun.	Then, a gun was showed to me.     a robber was showed to me.   I was showed a gun.	Feedback 2
3.	Next, the robber gave us an order to lie on the ground.	Next, the robber was given an order.     we were given an order.   an order was given to us.	Feedback 3
4.	After that, a robber passed the teller a bag and told her to fill it with unmarked bills, which she did.	After that, the teller was passed a bag ... the robber was passed a bag... the bag was passed to the teller ...	Feedback 4
5.	Next, he asked my co-workers and me a question about the safe. He headed back. Opened the safe. Then, he left.	Next, my co-worker and I were asked a question.     the safe was asked by my co-worker and I.   he was asked us about the safe.	Feedback 5
6.	After that, the security company sent us a team of investigators.	After that,, the security company was sent a team of investigators..     a team of investigators were sent us.   we were sent a team of investigators.	Feedback 6 .
7.	The next day, the directors of bank security wrote me a memo.	The next day, I was written a memo.     a memo was written the directors.   a memo was written me.	Feedback 7
8.	The directors offered me a week of paid vacation.	A week of paid vacation was offered to me.     I was offered a week of paid vacation. The directors were offered a week of paid vacation.	Feedback 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go to Grammar-Quizzes   | Previous "By" phrases  |  Next Page