Ditransitive Verbs: A Comprehensive Guide

Overview

Ditransitive verbs are a fascinating class of verbs in English grammar. They are unique because they require two objects to complete their meaning: a direct object and an indirect object. This contrasts with monotransitive verbs (one object) and intransitive verbs (no object).

Key Concepts

Direct and Indirect Objects

The direct object receives the action of the verb directly. The indirect object typically indicates to whom or for whom the action is performed. Often, the indirect object precedes the direct object.

Example: She gave him the book.

• Verb: gave
• Indirect Object: him
• Direct Object: the book

Common Ditransitive Verbs

Many common verbs fall into this category:

• give
• send
• tell
• show
• teach
• lend
• buy
• offer
• promise

Deep Dive

The Double Object Construction

The standard order is Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object (S-V-IO-DO). This is the most common and natural-sounding construction for ditransitive verbs.

Example: He owes me an apology.

The Prepositional Phrase Alternative

Often, the indirect object can be rephrased using a prepositional phrase (usually with ‘to’ or ‘for’) placed after the direct object. This is called the prepositional object construction.

Example: She gave the book to him.

This alternative construction is grammatically correct and sometimes preferred for clarity or stylistic reasons.

Applications

Understanding ditransitive verbs is crucial for constructing clear and grammatically sound sentences. They are frequently used in everyday communication, storytelling, and formal writing.

Example Sentences:

• The teacher explained the concept to the students.
• Can you send me the file?
• He bought his mother a gift.

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common misconception is that all verbs taking two noun phrases are ditransitive. However, the second noun phrase must function as an indirect object. Some verbs can take a direct object and a complement, which is different.

Distinguishing from other structures:

• Ditransitive: I told him a story. (him = IO, story = DO)
• Not Ditransitive: I consider him intelligent. (intelligent = complement of him)

FAQs

Can any verb be ditransitive?

No, only specific verbs inherently function as ditransitive. You cannot arbitrarily make any verb ditransitive.

What happens if a ditransitive verb is used with only one object?

It might be ungrammatical or change the meaning. For example, ‘He gave the book’ implies the recipient is understood from context or omitted.

Is the prepositional object construction always interchangeable?

While often interchangeable, some verbs have preferences or slight meaning shifts. For instance, ‘buy someone a gift’ is natural, but ‘buy a gift for someone’ is also common and clear.