When one object follows directly after another in a clause, as in the statement “I showed him (1) my collection (2),” the first is the indirect object (“him”) and the second is the direct object (“my collection”). The indirect object is typically the person or thing to whom the action of the verb is directed or for whom it is done.
| She bought him a sweater. | [him = indirect object; a sweater = direct object] |
| I gave my sister a present. | [my sister = indirect object; a present = direct object] |
| He told the police the truth. | [the police = indirect object; the truth = direct object] |
She handed the man sitting next to her the salad bowl. [the man sitting next to her = indirect object; the salad bowl = direct object]
They gave that old apartment a good cleaning. [that old apartment = indirect object; a good cleaning = direct object]
The meaning conveyed by an indirect object can generally be expressed in a prepositional phrase including the words “to” or “for.” (“He bought her flowers” > “He bought flowers for her.”) When a prepositional phrase is used, it usually follows the direct object, although it is not grammatically incorrect to insert the phrase (with "to" or "for") before the direct object or elsewhere in the sentence (e.g., “To her daughter she gave her house and her property.”
She bought him a sweater. > She bought a sweater for him.
I gave my sister a present. > I gave a present to my sister.
He told the police the truth. > He told the truth to the police.
She handed the man sitting next to her the salad bowl. > She handed the salad bowl to the man sitting next to her.
She handed the clerk her key. > She handed her key to the clerk. > To the clerk she handed her key.
Putting the indirect object into a prepositional phrase highlights that information, making the indirect object of equal prominence with, or of greater prominence than, the direct object.
Some verbs allow two objects to follow one another in a clause and yet the first object cannot be paraphrased using "to" or "for." We cannot paraphrase the sentence "I envy you your confidence," for example, as “I envy your confidence to you” or “I envy your confidence for you.” Below are examples of verbs that employ indirect objects whose meanings cannot be paraphrased with prepositional phrases that use "to" or "for." The function of the indirect object with verbs like these is unique. These verbs express some kind of reaction on the part of one person, the subject of the sentence, to what another person possesses or has done. With these verbs (“excuse,” “forgive,” “envy,” etc.), the indirect object represents this other person, the person causing the reaction. The information given by the indirect object tends to be redundant in these sentences, however, as it is often implicit in the direct object: “excused his flaws,” “envy your talent.” In fact, these indirect objects could, in many instances, simply be omitted from these types of sentences without loss of meaning. For example, “I envy you your talent” could be reduced to “I envy your talent” with little alteration to meaning. As odd as this particular type of indirect object may seem, it continues to be used in conjunction with these particular verbs (those in Group 1) to a fair degree.
Group 1
excuse: His mother excuses him all his flaws.
forgive: She did all these awful things, yet we forgave her everything!
envy: I envy you your talent.
begrudge: She begrudged him this opportunity.
pardon: The governor pardoned him his crimes.
The second group of verbs below contains indirect objects that are more like typical indirect objects; that is, they represent entities that are affected by the action of the verbs. Still, the indirect objects following these verbs are not typically paraphrased with "to" or "for.”
Group 2
bet: I'll bet you a dollar. > I’ll bet a dollar to you (?) I’ll bet a dollar for you (?)
cost: That accident cost him his life.
fine: They fined him a hundred dollars.