Foundation grammar · Unit 96 · A2

Give me that book! Give it to me!

Word order

give, lend, pass, send and show take two patterns: give something to somebody, or give somebody something. buy and get work the same way. When the thing is it or them, use the first pattern: give it to me, not give me it.

Go to the exercises

A Two patterns

After give, lend, pass, send, show you can use two patterns:

  1. give something to somebody: I gave the tickets to Sam.
  2. give somebody something: I gave Sam the tickets.
  • I gave the tickets to Sam.
  • I gave Sam the tickets.

B something to somebody

something to somebody
That's my pen. Give it to me.
These are Ella's gloves. Can you give them to her?
Could you take these biscuits to your grandad?
I lent my tent to a neighbour.
Did you send a card to Liam?
You've already shown those videos to us.
  • That's my pen. Give it to me.
  • I lent my tent to a neighbour.

C somebody something

somebody something
Give me that pen. It's mine.
Ollie gave his sister a scarf.
I lent Priya twenty pounds.
How much did you lend her?
I sent you a text. Did you get it?
Ruth showed us her wedding photos.
Could you pass me the pepper, please?

The same goes for buy and get:

  • I bought my dad a book. (= I bought a book for my dad.)
  • Could you get me some milk while you're out? (= get some milk for me)

D it and them

You cannot put to in the second pattern.

When the thing is it or them, use the first pattern.

  • I gave the tickets to Sam. / I gave Sam the tickets. (not I gave to Sam the tickets.)
  • That's my pen. Could you give it to me? / Could you give me that pen? (not give to me that pen)
  • I gave it to him. (not I gave him it)
  • Here's the post. Give it to your mum. (not Give your mum it)

Exercises

96.1 Laura was clearing out her flat. She gave away some things she didn't want: the sofa to her cousin, the bike to a neighbour, the CDs to Max, the mirror to her aunt, the plates to Jess and the guitar to her nephew. Write sentences beginning She gave ... .

  1. What did Laura do with the sofa?

    She gave it to her cousin.

    She gave it to her cousin.

  2. What did she do with the bike?

  3. What happened to the CDs?

  4. What about the mirror?

  5. What did she do with the plates?

  6. And the guitar?

96.2 You bought presents for six friends. Write a sentence about each person, beginning I gave ... .

  1. Adam: a book.

    (Adam)

    I gave Adam a book.

    I gave Adam a book.

  2. Bella: a plant.

    (Bella)

  3. Callum: a tie.

    (Callum)

  4. Dina: a box of chocolates.

    (Dina)

  5. Ruth: some flowers.

    (Ruth)

  6. Kenji: a pen.

    (Kenji)

96.3 Write questions beginning Can you give me ... ? / Can you pass me ... ? etc. Use the verb in brackets.

  1. You want the pepper. (pass)

    Can you pass me the pepper?

    Can you pass me the pepper?

  2. You need a torch. (lend)

  3. You want my phone number. (give)

  4. You need five pounds. (lend)

  5. You want the timetable. (send)

  6. You want to see the photos. (show)

  7. You want some batteries. (get)

96.4 Which is right? Type the correct sentence.

  1. I gave to Sam the tickets. / I gave Sam the tickets.

    I gave Sam the tickets.

    I gave Sam the tickets.

  2. I'll lend to you my car if you like. / I'll lend you my car if you like.

  3. Did you send the parcel me? / Did you send the parcel to me?

  4. I'd like to buy for you a drink. / I'd like to buy you a drink.

  5. Can you pass to me the bread, please? / Can you pass me the bread, please?

  6. This is Zoe's phone. Can you give it to her? / Can you give her it?

  7. I showed to the guard my ticket. / I showed the guard my ticket.

See also