A2 Sentence Structure 1 min read かんたん

Double-Object Verbs: Giving and Teaching (给我一本书)

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use two objects after verbs like 'give' or 'teach' to specify who receives the action and what is given.

  • The recipient comes before the object: {我|wǒ} {给|gěi} {他|tā} {书|shū} (I give him a book).
  • Verbs like {教|jiāo} (teach) and {送|sòng} (give as gift) follow this same pattern.
  • Never use 'to' or 'for' prepositions here; just place the recipient directly after the verb.
Subject + Verb + Recipient + Object

Overview

Some Chinese verbs take two objects: an indirect object (person) and a direct object (thing). Pattern: Subject + Verb + Person + Thing. Common verbs: 给 (give), 教 (teach), 告诉 (tell), 送 (send/give as gift), 问 (ask). The person always comes before the thing.

Meanings

This structure allows a verb to take two objects: an indirect object (the recipient) and a direct object (the thing being given or taught).

1

Giving/Transferring

Transferring ownership or physical possession.

“{他|tā} {给|gěi} {我|wǒ} {一|yī} {杯|bēi} {咖啡|kāfēi} (He gives me a cup of coffee).”

“{妈妈|māma} {送|sòng} {我|wǒ} {一|yī} {件|jiàn} {礼物|lǐwù} (Mom gives me a gift).”

2

Teaching/Informing

Transferring knowledge or information.

“{他|tā} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {写|xiě} {汉字|hànzì} (He teaches me to write characters).”

“{我|wǒ} {告诉|gàosù} {他|tā} {一|yī} {个|gè} {秘密|mìmì} (I tell him a secret).”

Double-Object Verb Structure

Subject Verb Recipient Object
老师 我们 中文
告诉 秘密
妈妈 礼物
经理 员工 流程

Reference Table

Reference table for Double-Object Verbs: Giving and Teaching (给我一本书)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative S + V + IO + DO 我给他们钱
Negative S + 不/没 + V + IO + DO 我不给他钱
Question S + V + IO + DO + 吗? 你给他钱吗?
Modal S + 会/能 + V + IO + DO 我会教你中文
Past S + V + 了 + IO + DO 他给了我书
Imperative 请 + V + IO + DO 请递我水

フォーマル度スペクトル

フォーマル
请递给我那本书。

请递给我那本书。 (Requesting an item)

ニュートラル
给我那本书。

给我那本书。 (Requesting an item)

カジュアル
把书给我。

把书给我。 (Requesting an item)

スラング
书拿来!

书拿来! (Requesting an item)

The Transfer Flow

Verb

Recipient

  • me
  • him

Object

  • book
  • money

レベル別の例文

1

{我|wǒ} {给|gěi} {他|tā} {水|shuǐ}

I give him water

2

{老师|lǎoshī} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {汉字|hànzì}

Teacher teaches me characters

3

{他|tā} {告诉|gàosù} {我|wǒ} {名字|míngzì}

He tells me the name

4

{请|qǐng} {递|dì} {我|wǒ} {笔|bǐ}

Please pass me the pen

1

{你|nǐ} {可以|kěyǐ} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {做|zuò} {饭|fàn} {吗|ma}?

Can you teach me to cook?

2

{我|wǒ} {没|méi} {给|gěi} {他|tā} {钱|qián}

I didn't give him money

3

{她|tā} {送|sòng} {我|wǒ} {一|yī} {本书|běnshū}

She gave me a book

4

{他|tā} {告诉|gàosù} {我|wǒ} {明天|míngtiān} {休息|xiūxi}

He told me tomorrow is a break

1

{经理|jīnglǐ} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {怎么|zěnme} {处理|chǔlǐ} {问题|wèntí}

The manager taught me how to handle problems

2

{我|wǒ} {已经|yǐjīng} {告诉|gàosù} {他|tā} {所有|suǒyǒu} {细节|xìjié}

I already told him all the details

3

{请|qǐng} {把|bǎ} {那|nà} {份|fèn} {报告|bàogào} {递|dì} {给|gěi} {我|wǒ}

Please pass me that report

4

{她|tā} {没|méi} {送|sòng} {我|wǒ} {任何|rènhé} {东西|dōngxi}

She didn't give me anything

1

{他|tā} {不仅|bùjǐn} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {中文|zhōngwén}, {还|hái} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {文化|wénhuà}

He not only taught me Chinese, but also culture

2

{我|wǒ} {建议|jiànyì} {你|nǐ} {告诉|gàosù} {他|tā} {真相|zhēnxiàng}

I suggest you tell him the truth

3

{这|zhè} {位|wèi} {老师|lǎoshī} {教|jiāo} {学生|xuéshēng} {如何|rúhé} {思考|sīkǎo}

This teacher teaches students how to think

4

{我|wǒ} {会|huì} {递|dì} {你|nǐ} {一份|yīfèn} {详细|xiángxì} {计划|jìhuà}

I will hand you a detailed plan

1

{他|tā} {总是|zǒngshì} {教|jiāo} {人|rén} {以|yǐ} {渔|yú}, {而|ér} {不|bù} {是|shì} {授|shòu} {人|rén} {以|yǐ} {鱼|yú}

He always teaches people how to fish rather than giving them fish

2

{请|qǐng} {务必|wùbì} {告诉|gàosù} {他|tā} {会议|huìyì} {的|de} {变动|biàndòng}

Please be sure to inform him of the meeting changes

3

{他|tā} {把|bǎ} {那|nà} {本|běn} {珍贵|zhēnguì} {的|de} {书|shū} {送|sòng} {给|gěi} {了|le} {我|wǒ}

He gifted that precious book to me

4

{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {方法|fāngfǎ} {教|jiāo} {我们|wǒmen} {如何|rúhé} {解决|jiějué} {复杂|fùzá} {问题|wèntí}

This method teaches us how to solve complex problems

1

{古人|gǔrén} {云|yún}, {授|shòu} {人|rén} {以|yǐ} {渔|yú} {胜|shèng} {于|yú} {授|shòu} {人|rén} {以|yǐ} {鱼|yú}

The ancients said, teaching a man to fish is better than giving him fish

2

{他|tā} {向|xiàng} {我|wǒ} {讲述|jiǎngshù} {了|le} {一段|yīduàn} {不为人知|bùwéirénzhī} {的|de} {历史|lìshǐ}

He recounted to me a piece of unknown history

3

{无论|wúlùn} {如何|rúhé}, {请|qǐng} {告诉|gàosù} {他|tā} {事情|shìqing} {的|de} {原委|yuánwěi}

Regardless, please tell him the whole story

4

{他|tā} {教|jiāo} {了|le} {我|wǒ} {许多|xǔduō} {为人处世|wéirénchǔshì} {的|de} {道理|dàolǐ}

He taught me many principles of conduct

間違えやすい

Double-Object Verbs: Giving and Teaching (给我一本书) 给 vs 把

Learners mix up the transfer of items.

よくある間違い

给书给我

给我书

Don't repeat the verb.

教中文给我

教我中文

Recipient must come before the object.

告诉给我也

告诉我

Don't add extra particles.

把书给给他

把书给他

Avoid redundant particles.

文型パターン

请 ___ 我 ___

他 ___ 我 ___

我 ___ 他 ___

谁 ___ 你 ___?

Real World Usage

Ordering food very common

请给我菜单。

Classroom common

老师教我们中文。

Texting very common

告诉我结果。

Business common

请递给我报告。

Gift giving common

送你一份礼物。

Travel occasional

请给我地图。

💡

Avoid 'to'

Never translate 'to' as 'gei' when it's just a preposition.
⚠️

Word Order

Person always comes before the object.
🎯

Verb Choice

Only use this for transfer verbs.
💬

Politeness

Always add 'qing' (please) before the verb.

Smart Tips

Drop the 'to' and just put the person after the verb.

给书到他 给他书

Use the double-object structure for all teaching verbs.

教中文到我 教我中文

The person receiving the info is the first object.

告诉消息给我 告诉我消息

Use 'di' for passing, not 'gei'.

给水我 递给我水

発音

gěi

Tone change

The word {给|gěi} is third tone.

Statement

Subject + Verb + IO + DO ↘

Neutral information

暗記しよう

記憶術

The person is the 'VIP' (Very Important Person) who must stand right next to the verb.

視覚的連想

Imagine a person standing directly in front of a teacher, catching a ball (the object) thrown by the teacher.

Rhyme

Person first, object next, that is how you build the text.

Story

I walked into the classroom. The teacher gave me a book. I told my friend the news. We were all happy.

Word Web

给 (give)教 (teach)告诉 (tell)送 (gift)递 (pass)借 (lend)

チャレンジ

Write 5 sentences using 'give', 'teach', 'tell', 'pass', and 'lend' in 5 minutes.

文化メモ

Using 'give' is very common in daily transactions.

Similar structure, often uses '送' for gifts.

Often influenced by English, but the double-object structure remains standard.

Ancient Chinese ditransitive verbs evolved from serial verb constructions.

会話のきっかけ

谁教你中文?

你可以给我你的电话吗?

谁告诉你这个消息的?

你愿意教我怎么写汉字吗?

日記のテーマ

Write about a gift you received.
Describe a teacher who helped you.
Tell a story about a secret you shared.
Explain a skill you learned from someone.

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

我 ___ 他 一本书。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
给 is the verb for giving.
Choose the correct sentence. 選択問題

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 给我书
Person before object.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

教中文给我。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 教我中文
Person first.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他给我钱
S+V+IO+DO.
Translate to Chinese. 翻訳

Tell me the truth.

Answer starts with: 告诉我...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 告诉我真相
Standard structure.
Match the verb to the object. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 钱, 中文, 秘密
Logical pairings.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use: 老师, 教, 我们, 汉字

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 老师教我们汉字
S+V+IO+DO.
Choose the best fit. 選択問題

___ 给我那本书。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 请递
递 is best for passing items.

Score: /8

練習問題

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

我 ___ 他 一本书。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
给 is the verb for giving.
Choose the correct sentence. 選択問題

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 给我书
Person before object.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

教中文给我。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 教我中文
Person first.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

他 / 钱 / 给 / 我

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他给我钱
S+V+IO+DO.
Translate to Chinese. 翻訳

Tell me the truth.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 告诉我真相
Standard structure.
Match the verb to the object. Match Pairs

Match: 给, 教, 告诉

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 钱, 中文, 秘密
Logical pairings.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use: 老师, 教, 我们, 汉字

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 老师教我们汉字
S+V+IO+DO.
Choose the best fit. 選択問題

___ 给我那本书。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 请递
递 is best for passing items.

Score: /8

よくある質問 (8)

No, it sounds redundant. Just use it once as the verb.

No, only for transfer verbs like give, teach, tell.

The structure remains the same.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

The structure is the same.

Ba is for manipulation, this is for transfer.

Only if context is clear, but usually you need it.

No, it's very logical once you practice.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

English high

Give him the book

Chinese has no prepositional alternative.

Spanish moderate

Le doy el libro

Spanish requires clitics.

German high

Ich gebe ihm das Buch

German uses case markers.

Japanese moderate

彼に本をあげる

Japanese is particle-based.

Arabic moderate

أعطيته الكتاب

Arabic uses morphology.

Chinese high

给我书

None.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?
まだコメントがありません。最初に考えをシェアしましょう!