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 PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

• Passive Summary
• Passive Diagnostic
• Focus on Object
• Focus on Project
• By Phrases
• Focus Ind Object
• Never Passive
• Get-Passives
• Participles w/ Preps
• Participle-Prep Prac
• Participial Clauses 1
• Participial Clauses 2
• Been / Being
• Passive in Context

• On this page:
• Direct v. Indirect Object
• Word Order
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1

Indirect Objects as Subjects

Placing Emphasis on the Receiver of the Action

 

 

 

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 direct obejct, the item received.	This phrasing places emphasis on the indirect object, the person receiving the item.
A  bill was delivered to Congress 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.

Also see Indirect Objects  (dative verbs) 

 

 

 

Word Order

In standard word order, the indirect object generally comes after the direct object and uses a preposition such as to or for.

SUBJECT	VERB	DIRECT OBJECT	INDIRECT OBJECT	PHRASE
Barak Obama	gave	a speech	to Congress	about the economy.

 

For some verbs the indirect object can also come before the direct object

SUBJECT	VERB	INDIRECT OBJECT	DIRECT OBJECT	PHRASE
Barak Obama	gave	Congress	a speech	about the economy.

 

Please see this list of verbs that accept Indirect Objects  (dative verbs) 

 

 

 

 

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.

Also see Said Synonyms (told me/ said to me)

 

 

 

Practice

Bank Robbery - the Victims Tell All

 

 

 

Recount the story of this bank robbery:

Because the name of the robbers are unknown in a robbery (until they are caught), news stories often focus on the experiences of the victims or the sequence of events.

1. Select the option that best completes the sentence. 
2. Read the comment about each option.   subject – (subj.)   direct object – (d.o.)   indirect object – (i.o.)

 

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