5.c1.1 - Unit 5 - Grammar

C1.
1 - UNIT 5
GRAMMAR
VERB PATTERNS - VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS
Before we talk about the different verb patterns that we can find in English, let’s
review what a transitive verb is. We can say that a verb is transitive if it can be
followed by one object or two objects. If a verb has two objects, the first (the
indirect object) is usually a person or group of people and the second (the direct
object) is a thing. If a verb can’t be followed by an object, it is intransitive and it can’t
have a passive form. Let’s take a look at these examples.
The situation offers us the opportunity to learn more.
In this sentence, the verb ‘offer’ is transitive and has two objects (‘us’ and ‘the
opportunity’).
The baby was crying.
The verb ‘cry’, however, is intransitive.
We can now learn more about verbs patterns, especially verbs with two objects.
➢ We are able to reverse the order of the objects if we put ‘to’ or ‘for’ before the
indirect object:
y best friend a new apartment to rent.

I recently found m
or
I recently found a new apartment to rent for my best friend.
1
➢ We normally use ‘to’ with an indirect object and verbs like: ‘lend’, ‘show’,
‘give’ and ‘offer’.
I lent her the book I was reading.
I lent the book I was reading t o her.
or
e t he job.
They offered m
They offered the job to me.
➢ We normally use ‘for’ with an indirect object with verbs such as ‘build’, ‘find’
and ‘get’.
He found me a present.
He found a present for me.
➢ With the verbs: ‘write’, ‘read’ and ‘play’ we can use ‘for’ and ‘to’, although
the meaning is not normally the same.
I wrote a letter t o the headmaster of the school. (a letter that I wrote and I sent to the
headmaster)
I wrote a letter for the headmaster of the school. (a letter that I wrote on behalf of the
headmaster)
➢ Sometimes the meaning has the same result, although the personal sentiment
is different if we use ‘for’ instead of ‘to’.
I played a song to my girlfriend.
I played a song for my girlfriend.
2
Both have a similar meaning, if not the same. However, when you do something for
someone, it has more of a personal or emotional intent, in a sense that you are doing
something to please or satisfy the needs of someone else. In the this case ‘my
girlfriend’.
➢ When using pronouns, we can use ‘to’ and ‘for’ in the following way.
I lent it to my best friend.
Lend it to me.
I mended it for my aunt.
Mend i t for her.
In conversation you may hear people expressing themselves in this way:
‘Lent my best friend it.’
‘Lend me it.’
However, it is not seen as a correct way to speak and should be avoided.
➢ Some verbs can only have two objects in the pattern direct object + for / to +
indirect object. For example:
○ With ‘for’ (These verbs include ‘mend’ or ‘fix’)
Please mend this f or me. (*NOT Mend me this, please)
○ With ‘to’ (These verbs include ‘express’, ‘explain’ and ‘describe’)
The teacher tried her best to explain the exercise to the class. (*NOT The
teacher tried her best to explain the class the exercise.)
3
Even though the expressions that have been crossed out are not correct in a strictly
grammatical sense, it is possible when visiting the UK or other English speaking
countries, that you will encounter people speaking and writing in this way.
VERB PATTERNS - VERBS WITH REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
When the subject or the object is also making reference to the same person, we use
what is called a reflexive pronoun. As you already know, reflexive pronouns are the
following:
myself - yourself - herself - himself - itself - ourselves - yourselves - themselves
➢ After some verbs, we can use a reflexive pronoun or leave it out with little
difference in meaning.
leans itself.
I have an oven that c
Due to breakthroughs in GPS technology, tests are being made in order to build
rive themselves.
automobiles that d
➢ We can also use reflexive pronouns in order to put emphasis on the human
ability or the situation itself.
oing that herself!

She is more than capable of d
Do it yourself!
➢ Here are some more verbs that are more commonly used with reflexive
pronouns.
wash - shave - touch - prepare for - adapt to - acclimatise to - (un)dress - hide -

move - do
4
➢ Some verbs are often used with a reflexive pronoun and a particular
preposition. For example:
She distanced herself from her family.
VERB PATTERNS - VERB WITH EACH OTHER / ONE ANOTHER
Take a look at the difference in meaning with the use of reflexive pronouns and
‘each other’ or ‘one another’ in a sentence.
ach other / o
They were advised to help e ne another. ( One person helps the other
and vice versa.)
They were advised to help t hemselves. (Each person helps oneself and not the
other.)
➢ With some verbs (for example: ‘agree’, ‘coincide’ or ‘play’) we have to use
the preposition ‘with’ before ‘each other’ or ‘one another’.
Video and audio coincide with each other from the beginning to end during played
back.
➢ After the verbs ‘embrace’, ‘fight’, ‘hug’, ‘kiss’, ‘marry’ and ‘meet’ we can
use ‘each other’ or ‘(with) one another’, but this can be omitted.
I still remember the day we met (each other).

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C1.

The situation offers ​us the opportunity​ to learn more.

The baby was crying.

The verb ‘cry’, however, is intransitive.

​ y best friend ​a new apartment to rent.

I recently found a new apartment to rent​ for my best friend​.

I lent ​her ​the book I was reading.

I lent the book I was reading t​ o her​.

They offered the job ​to​ ​me​.

He found ​me ​a present.

He found a present ​for me​.

I played a song ​to ​my girlfriend.

I played a song ​for​ my girlfriend.

I lent​ it to​ my best friend.

Lend​ it to​ me.

I mended ​it for​ my aunt.

Mend i​ t for​ her.

‘Lent my best friend it.’

However, it is not seen as a correct way to speak and should be avoided.

○ With ​‘for’​ (These verbs include ​‘mend’​ or ​‘fix’​)

Please mend this f​ or​ me.​ (​*​NOT ​Mend me this, please​)

○ With ​‘to’ ​(These verbs include ​‘express’, ‘explain’ ​and​ ‘describe’​)

VERB PATTERNS - VERBS WITH REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

myself - yourself - herself - himself - itself - ourselves - yourselves - themselves

​ oing that herself!

wash - shave - touch - prepare for - adapt to - acclimatise to - (un)dress - hide -

She distanced herself ​from ​her family.

VERB PATTERNS - VERB WITH EACH OTHER / ONE ANOTHER

I still remember the day we met ​(each other)​.

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The situation offers us the opportunity to learn more.

y best friend a new apartment to rent.

I recently found a new apartment to rent for my best friend.

I lent her the book I was reading.

I lent the book I was reading t o her.

They offered the job to me.

He found me a present.

He found a present for me.

I played a song to my girlfriend.

I played a song for my girlfriend.

I lent it to my best friend.

Lend it to me.

I mended it for my aunt.

Mend i t for her.

○ With ‘for’ (These verbs include ‘mend’ or ‘fix’)

Please mend this f or me. (*NOT Mend me this, please)

○ With ‘to’ (These verbs include ‘express’, ‘explain’ and ‘describe’)

oing that herself!

She distanced herself from her family.

I still remember the day we met (each other).