Double Object Sentences: 给/送 + person + thing
A double object sentence gives a verb two objects in a row, first the person and then the thing, with no preposition between them. 给, 送, 教, 问 and 告诉 take this pattern, as in 他给我一本书.
Pattern: Subject + Verb + Person + Thing
妈妈给我一件礼物。(Mom gives me a gift.)
老师教我们汉语。(The teacher teaches us Chinese.)
Common mistake: putting the thing before the person — ❌ 老师教汉语我们; ✅ 老师教我们汉语. 教, 问 and 告诉 take the person directly, with no 给. (送 can also be said 送给: 送给他一本书.)
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 妈妈给我一件礼物。 | Māma gěi wǒ yī jiàn lǐwù. | Mom gives me a gift. | Minimal frame with 给 (prototypical double-object verb). |
| 老师教我们汉语。 | Lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen Hànyǔ. | The teacher teaches us Chinese. | Different verb (教), no preposition inserted before the person. |
| 他问了我一个很难的问题，我不知道怎么回答。 | Tā wèn le wǒ yī gè hěn nán de wèntí, wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme huídá. | He asked me a difficult question, and I didn't know how to answer. | Adds aspect marker 了 and a follow-up consequence clause. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
给 (gěi)
Moves something to a person, with the person first and the thing second.
Structure: 给 + person + thing
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 爸爸给我一本词典。 | Bà ba gěi wǒ yì běn cí diǎn. | Dad gave me a dictionary. |
| 请给我一杯水。 | Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ. | Please give me a glass of water. |
| 老板给了他一个月的假。 | Lǎo bǎn gěi le tā yí gè yuè de jiǎ. | The boss gave him a month off. |
Not: 我给一本书他。 The person comes before the thing: 我给他一本书.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, prepositions (引出对象).
给 is also explained in: Object Prepositions: 对、给、离、为 (HSK 2).
送 (sòng)
Gives something as a present.
Structure: 送 + person + gift
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 朋友送我一束花。 | Péng you sòng wǒ yí shù huā. | My friend gave me a bunch of flowers. |
| 我想送妈妈一条围巾。 | Wǒ xiǎng sòng mā ma yì tiáo wéi jīn. | I want to give mum a scarf. |
| 他送了老师一张卡片。 | Tā sòng le lǎo shī yì zhāng kǎ piàn. | He gave the teacher a card. |
Not: 我送一个礼物妈妈。 The person comes first: 我送妈妈一个礼物.
教 (jiāo)
Teaches someone a subject or skill.
Structure: 教 + person + subject
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 王老师教我们数学。 | Wáng lǎo shī jiāo wǒ men shù xué. | Mr Wang teaches us maths. |
| 谁教你游泳？ | Shuí jiāo nǐ yóu yǒng? | Who taught you to swim? |
| 哥哥教我开车。 | Gē ge jiāo wǒ kāi chē. | My older brother taught me to drive. |
Not: 她教汉语我们。 Person before subject: 她教我们汉语.
问 (wèn)
Asks someone a question or about something.
Structure: 问 + person + question
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我想问老师一件事。 | Wǒ xiǎng wèn lǎo shī yí jiàn shì. | I want to ask the teacher something. |
| 小孩问妈妈很多问题。 | Xiǎo hái wèn mā ma hěn duō wèn tí. | The child asks mum many questions. |
| 他问我今天几点下课。 | Tā wèn wǒ jīn tiān jǐ diǎn xià kè. | He asked me what time class ends today. |
Not: 我问一个问题老师。 Ask the person first: 我问老师一个问题.
告诉 (gào su)
Tells someone a fact or news.
Structure: 告诉 + person + information
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 请告诉我你的名字。 | Qǐng gào su wǒ nǐ de míng zì. | Please tell me your name. |
| 她告诉我一个好消息。 | Tā gào su wǒ yí gè hǎo xiāo xi. | She told me some good news. |
| 谁告诉你的？ | Shuí gào su nǐ de? | Who told you? |
Not: 我告诉一个秘密你。 Person first: 我告诉你一个秘密.
What this opens up
These patterns list Double Object Sentences among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Double Object Sentences
What does 双宾语句 (Double Object Sentences) mean in Chinese?
A double object sentence gives a verb two objects in a row, first the person and then the thing, with no preposition between them. 给, 送, 教, 问 and 告诉 take this pattern, as in 他给我一本书. It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 双宾语句 (Double Object Sentences) in a sentence?
妈妈给我一件礼物。 — Māma gěi wǒ yī jiàn lǐwù. — Mom gives me a gift. Minimal frame with 给 (prototypical double-object verb).
Where does 双宾语句 (Double Object Sentences) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 2, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 双宾语句 (Double Object Sentences) lead to?
Passive Constructions (HSK 3). Each of them names 双宾语句 (Double Object Sentences) among its own prerequisites.
Can 给 come after the verb?
Yes. With verbs such as 送, 寄 and 借 you can put 给 after the verb and then name the person, as in 我把书送给他。 Both 我送他书 and 我送书给他 are fine.
Do all verbs take two objects?
No. Only verbs of giving, telling and asking do, so 我给他一本书 works but 我看他一本书 does not. For other verbs use 给 before the verb: 我给他做饭。
Double Object Sentences is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level