After these verbs (give/lend etc.), there are two possible structures:
give something to somebody
- I gave the keys to Sarah.
give somebody something
- I gave Sarah the keys.
Give something to somebody:
Give somebody something:
You can also say buy/get somebody something:
- I bought my mother some flowers. (= I bought some flowers for my mother.).
- I’m going to the shop. Can I get you anything? (= get anything for you).
You can say:
- I gave the keys to Sarah. and I gave Sarah the keys. (but not I gave to Sarah the keys).
- That's my book. Can you give it to me? and Can you give me that book? (but not Can you give to me that book?).
We prefer the first structure (give something to somebody) with it or them:
- I gave it to her. (not I gave her it).
- Here are the keys. Give them to your father. (not Give your father them).
Make sentences beginning He gave ....
1. What did Mark do with the armchair? He gave it to his brother.
2. What did he do with the tennis racket? He gave me it to Gary.
3. What happened to the books? He gave them to Sarah.
4. What about the lamp? He gave it to his sister.
5. What did he do with the pictures? He gave them to Robert.
6. And the ladder? He gave it to a neighbour.
You gave presents to your friends. You decided to give them the things in the pictures. Make sentence for each person:
1. gave Paul a book.
2. I gave Joanna a plant.
3. I gave Richard a tie.
4. I gave Emma some chocolates / a box of chocolates.
5. I gave Rachel some flowers / a bunch of flowers.
6. I gave Kevin a wallet.
Make questions beginning Can you give me ... ? / Can you pass me ... ? etc:
1. (you need twenty pounds) Can you pass me the salt (lend).
2. (you want more information) Can you lend me an umbrella? (send).
3. (you want to see the letter) Can you give me your address? (show).
4. (you need twenty pounds) Can you lend me twenty pounds? (lend).
5. (You want more information) Can you send me more information? (send).
6. (You want to see the letter) Can you show me the letter? (show).
