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.
Overview
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).
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).”
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 | 给 | 他 | 书 |
| 老师 | 教 | 我们 | 中文 |
| 他 | 告诉 | 我 | 秘密 |
| 妈妈 | 送 | 我 | 礼物 |
| 请 | 递 | 我 | 水 |
| 经理 | 教 | 员工 | 流程 |
Reference Table
| 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 |
Formality Spectrum
请递给我那本书。 (Requesting an item)
给我那本书。 (Requesting an item)
把书给我。 (Requesting an item)
书拿来！ (Requesting an item)
The Transfer Flow
Recipient
- 我 me
- 他 him
Object
- 书 book
- 钱 money
Examples by Level
{我|wǒ} {给|gěi} {他|tā} {水|shuǐ}
I give him water
{老师|lǎoshī} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {汉字|hànzì}
Teacher teaches me characters
{他|tā} {告诉|gàosù} {我|wǒ} {名字|míngzì}
He tells me the name
{请|qǐng} {递|dì} {我|wǒ} {笔|bǐ}
Please pass me the pen
{你|nǐ} {可以|kěyǐ} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {做|zuò} {饭|fàn} {吗|ma}?
Can you teach me to cook?
{我|wǒ} {没|méi} {给|gěi} {他|tā} {钱|qián}
I didn't give him money
{她|tā} {送|sòng} {我|wǒ} {一|yī} {本书|běnshū}
She gave me a book
{他|tā} {告诉|gàosù} {我|wǒ} {明天|míngtiān} {休息|xiūxi}
He told me tomorrow is a break
{经理|jīnglǐ} {教|jiāo} {我|wǒ} {怎么|zěnme} {处理|chǔlǐ} {问题|wèntí}
The manager taught me how to handle problems
{我|wǒ} {已经|yǐjīng} {告诉|gàosù} {他|tā} {所有|suǒyǒu} {细节|xìjié}
I already told him all the details
{请|qǐng} {把|bǎ} {那|nà} {份|fèn} {报告|bàogào} {递|dì} {给|gěi} {我|wǒ}
Please pass me that report
{她|tā} {没|méi} {送|sòng} {我|wǒ} {任何|rènhé} {东西|dōngxi}
She didn't give me anything
{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
{我|wǒ} {建议|jiànyì} {你|nǐ} {告诉|gàosù} {他|tā} {真相|zhēnxiàng}
I suggest you tell him the truth
{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
{我|wǒ} {会|huì} {递|dì} {你|nǐ} {一份|yīfèn} {详细|xiángxì} {计划|jìhuà}
I will hand you a detailed plan
{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
{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
{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
{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
{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
{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
{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
{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
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the transfer of items.
Common Mistakes
给书给我
给我书
教中文给我
教我中文
告诉给我也
告诉我
把书给给他
把书给他
Sentence Patterns
请 ___ 我 ___
他 ___ 我 ___
我 ___ 他 ___
谁 ___ 你 ___?
Real World Usage
请给我菜单。
老师教我们中文。
告诉我结果。
请递给我报告。
送你一份礼物。
请给我地图。
Avoid 'to'
Word Order
Verb Choice
Politeness
Smart Tips
Drop the 'to' and just put the person after the verb.
Use the double-object structure for all teaching verbs.
The person receiving the info is the first object.
Use 'di' for passing, not 'gei'.
Pronunciation
Tone change
The word {给|gěi} is third tone.
Statement
Subject + Verb + IO + DO ↘
Neutral information
Memorize It
Mnemonic
The person is the 'VIP' (Very Important Person) who must stand right next to the verb.
Visual Association
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
Challenge
Write 5 sentences using 'give', 'teach', 'tell', 'pass', and 'lend' in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
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.
Conversation Starters
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？
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
我 ___ 他 一本书。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
教中文给我。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Tell me the truth.
Answer starts with: 告诉我...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use: 老师, 教, 我们, 汉字
___ 给我那本书。
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises我 ___ 他 一本书。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
教中文给我。
他 / 钱 / 给 / 我
Tell me the truth.
Match: 给, 教, 告诉
Use: 老师, 教, 我们, 汉字
___ 给我那本书。
Score: /8
FAQ (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
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Give him the book
Chinese has no prepositional alternative.
Le doy el libro
Spanish requires clitics.
Ich gebe ihm das Buch
German uses case markers.
彼に本をあげる
Japanese is particle-based.
أعطيته الكتاب
Arabic uses morphology.
给我书
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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