Ditransitive Verbs
Ditransitive verbs are transitive verbs that take two objects. A direct object and an indirect object. Follow the article to read more about them.
What Are Ditransitive Verbs?
Ditransitive (also called bitransitive 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
They gave
ditransitive verbs
Ditransitive Verbs: Types
Ditransitive verbs can be categorized into three groups:
- Ditransitive verbs that can be converted to mono-transitive verbs with 'to'
Have you paid
Can you pass
- Ditransitive verbs that can be converted to mono-transitive verbs with 'for'
Will you buy
Could you do
- Ditransitive verbs that cannot be converted to mono-transitive verbs very well
She asked
I struck
Ditransitive Verbs: Sentence Structure
Follow the rules to make correct sentences:
- Choose the correct subject.
- Use a proper ditransitive verb.
- Write the indirect object right after the ditransitive verb.
- Use a direct object preceded by the indirect object.
'pass' is a ditransitive verb
Check out the following examples:
The server brought
In this example, 'the server' is the subject the verb 'brought' is a ditransitive verb and the pronoun 'us' is the indirect object and the phrase 'the orders' is the direct object of the sentence.
His little sister gave
Tip!
Sometimes grammarians tend to use indirect objects after the direct object, which does not make sense. The only way to use such a structure is through a prepositional phrase.
Note that the prepositional phrase is made of the prepositions 'for' and 'to.' Let us take a look at the examples:
She sold a
In this example, the term 'house' is the direct object and the prepositional phrase 'to my father' works as an indirect object.
Please tell the
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 it is mentioned, ditransitive verbs take two objects, one is the direct one and the other one is an indirect object. Each object can turn to the agent of the passive voice. Let us take a look at the examples for more clarification:
He gave
The pronoun 'me' is the indirect object and the phrase 'a book' is a direct object, in this example.
In this example, the direct object of the active voice has become the agent of the passive voice.
In this example, the indirect object has turned to the agent of the passive voice.
Attributive Ditransitive Verbs
Attributive ditransitive verbs (also called complex transitive verbs) are made of a subject, an object, and an object complement. Check these examples out for more clarification:
I accidently called
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
Common Attributive Ditransitive Verbs
Here are some of the most common attributive ditransitive verbs in English:
- appoint, call, color, consider, decorate
- designate, elect, find, keep
- make, name, paint, prove
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 | ✗ | ✗ |
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