LoginDitransitive Verbs
Dive into ditransitive verbs like 'show' (show something to someone). Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.
What Are Ditransitive Verbs?
Ditransitive verbs (also known as bitransitive verbs or double transitive verbs) are verbs that can take both direct and indirect objects.
When Do We Use Ditransitive Verbs?
Ditransitive verbs are used when someone other than the subject receives something as the result of the action of the verb. Check out the examples:
I sent him a letter.
They gave mother the presents.
Ditransitive Verbs: Types
Ditransitive verbs can be categorized into three groups based on the structures they allow:
Ditransitive verbs where the indirect object can be introduced using an object of preposition with 'to'
Have you paid him the money? → Have you paid the money to him?
Can you pass me the salt? → Can you pass the salt to me?
Ditransitive verbs where the indirect object can be introduced using an object of preposition with 'for'
Will you buy me some candies? → Will you buy some candies for me?
Could you do me a favor? → Could you do a favor for me?
Ditransitive verbs where the indirect object cannot be expressed with an object of preposition without sounding unnatural
She asked me several questions.
I struck the gate a heavy blow.
Ditransitive Verbs: Common Verb Complement Types
Both complements of ditransitive verbs are objects. As a results, only pronouns/nouns, noun clauses, and objects of prepositions can act as the complements of these verbs. These elements can be combined in the following ways:
Noun (phrase) + Noun (phrase)
I told her the truth.
They offered my friend a job.
Noun (phrase) + Noun Clause
He convinced the manager that the plan would work.
She told him what to do.
Noun Clause + Noun (phrase)
She gave whoever was speaking her attention.
I gave what you said some thought.
This structure is less common that the others, but grammatically possible.
Noun (phrase) + Object of Preposition
They supplied the refugees with food.
Keep in mind that in this case, the indirect object remains in place and the object of preposition is the direct object. The order cannot be reversed.
He compared her to a rose.
Ditransitive Verbs: Sentence Structure
Sentences formed with ditransitive verbs follow the structure below:
Subject + Ditransitive verb + Indirect object + Direct object
Check out the following examples:
The server brought us the orders.
In this example, 'the server' is the subject, 'brought' is a ditransitive verb, the pronoun 'us' is the indirect object, and the phrase 'the orders' is the direct object of the sentence.
His little sister gave him a present.
Tip!
The indirect object always comes before the direct object. The only way to reverse this order is to change the indirect object to an object of preposition using the prepositions 'for' or 'to.' Take a look at some examples:
She sold a house to my father.
In this example, 'house' is the direct object and the prepositional phrase 'to my father' works as an indirect object.
Please tell the truth to me.
Common Ditransitive Verbs
Here are some of the most common ditransitive verbs in English:
ask, buy, give, offer, send, show, tell
assign, bet, bring, cost, do, feed, find, get
lend, owe, pass, pay, play
Ditransitive Verbs and Passive Voice
As already mentioned, ditransitive verbs take two objects, one is the direct one and the other one is an indirect object. When using the passive voice, each of the objects of the ditransitive verb can become the subject of the passive sentence, depending on which one the speaker wants to emphasize. Look at the examples below:
He gave me a book. → active voice
The pronoun 'me' is the indirect object and the noun phrase 'a book' is a direct object in this example.
A book was given to me by him. → Passive Voice
Notice how the indirect object has changed to a prepositional form in the passive voice.
I was given a book by him. → Passive Voice
In this example, the indirect object has turned to the subject of the passive voice, so, the pronoun must change from object (me) to subject form (I).
Attributive Ditransitive Verbs
Attributive ditransitive verbs (also called complex transitive verbs) are made of an object, and an object complement. Check these examples out:
I accidently called him Bobo instead of Babbo.
In this example, the pronoun 'him' is the object and 'Bobo' is the object complement.
He called me a liar and I am going to prove him wrong.
Review
Ditransitive verbs are verbs that take both direct and indirect objects at the same time. Check out the table below.
Direct object | Indirect object | |
|---|---|---|
Transitive verbs | ✓ | ✗ |
Ditransitive verbs | ✓ | ✓ |
Intransitive verbs | ✗ | ✗ |
The indirect object comes before the direct object. The following is a list of possible combinations of elements used as complements of ditransitive verbs.
Noun (phrase) + Noun (phrase)
Noun (phrase) + Noun Clause
Noun Clause + Noun (phrase)
Noun (phrase) + Object of Preposition
Quiz:
Which sentence shows the use of a ditransitive verb with a prepositional phrase for the indirect object?
She gave me a gift.
He told her the news.
I bought the kids some toys.
I sent a letter to her.
Match each sentence with the correct structure for ditransitive verbs.
Sort the words to make a sentence with a ditransitive verb.
Which of the following sentences correctly changes from active to passive voice?
She told him a secret. → A secret was told her to him.
I showed him the picture. → The picture was shown by me to him.
They gave us the book. → The book was given us by them.
He sent her a letter. → A letter was sent to her by him.
Choose True or False for each statement.
In sentences with ditransitive verbs, the direct object always comes before the indirect object. | |
Noun clauses can act as indirect objects in sentences with ditransitive verbs. | |
Ditransitive verbs always require the indirect object to be expressed using an object of preposition like "to" or "for." | |
Common ditransitive verbs include verbs like "give," "tell," "buy," and "offer." | |
Attributive ditransitive verbs always require an object complement that modifies or describes the direct object. |
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