§ 72. The direct object comes before the predicate verb it refers to in the following cases:

1. In pronominal questions referring to the direct object or to its attribute.

What did they give you?

Whose car was he driving?

Which piece shall I take?

2. In certain exclamatory sentences.

What a wonderful boat he has built!

3. In case it is necessary to connect the idea expressed in this sentence with the preceding one. This makes the object more emphatic.

The people of the village gathered in silence to watch his quick hands.

This job too he did well and patiently.

4. For the sake of emphasis or contrast.

I enjoyed arithmetic, as always. Grammar I could not understand in the least.

The indirect object

The indirect recipient object

§ 73. As has been mentioned above, the indirect recipient object is used mainly with transitive verbs, which thus take two objects, and are accordingly called ditransitive. Verbs governing the indirect recipient object fall into two classes, which in accordance with their general semantics are called verbs of benefaction and verbs of inducement.

Verbs of benefaction denote an action that is addressed to a person or is done for that person's sake or benefit.

First she gave him his supper.

I’ve bought a pair of beautiful earrings for you, dear.

Verbs of inducеment denote an action which causes a person to do some other action.

Ann told him to leave her alone.

I beg you to forgive me.

§ 74. The indirect recipient object is generally used together with the direct object and precedes it (see the examples above).

If the indirect object is attached to a verb of benefaction, the direct object is usually a noun, a pronoun, or a clause.

Bring the man his things.

I told her everything.

They did not show him what it was.

Some verbs of benefaction can take an infinitive or a gerund as their direct object.

Help me (to) do it.

She promised me to be punctual.

Miss Craggs taught them singing.

If the indirect recipient object is attached to a verb of inducement, the direct object can only be an infinitive or an infinitive phrase.

She asked him to come to dinner.

When attached to verbs of benefaction, the indirect recipient object may sometimes be used alone, that is, without a following direct object. This occurs:

a) Where it is attached to the predicate verb in the passive.

At last the check was given her and she left.

b) After the verbs to answer, to ask, to envy, to forgive, to help, to teach.

She used to teach me once.

I’ve helped you all my life.

Note:

The indirect recipient object may also be used alone after the verbs to read, to explain, to dictate, to spell, to sing, to write, but in the case of the first five it always takes the preposition to, whereas with to write both forms are possible.

Why do you never read to me now?

Will she sing to us tonight?

At first she wrote to him twice a week.

Write me back as soon as you get the cable.

When attached to verbs of inducement, the indirect recipient object can never be used alone.

Form and position of the indirect recipient objects