Double-object sentences (1)

A 双宾语句 (shuāng bīnyǔ jù) is a sentence in which one verb takes two objects.

This section covers those sentences with the verbs 给 (gěi) and 问 (wèn).

Basic structure

Subject + verb + person + thing

Usually: the first object is a person; the second object is a thing.

请(Qǐng)给(gěi)我(wǒ)一(yì)杯(bēi)牛(niú)奶(nǎi)。

Please give me a glass of milk.

给 + 我 + 一杯牛奶 give + me + a glass of milk

请(qǐng)please

给(gěi)give

我(wǒ)me — the first object, a person

一(yì)杯(bēi)牛(niú)奶(nǎi)a glass of milk — the second object, a thing

白(Bái)家(Jiā)月(yuè)给(gěi)安(Ān)妮(nī)一(yí)个(ge)苹(píng)果(guǒ)。

Bai Jiayue gave Annie an apple.

给 + 安妮 + 一个苹果 give + Annie + one apple

白(Bái)家(Jiā)月(yuè)Bai Jiayue

给(gěi)give

安(Ān)妮(nī)Annie — the first object, a person

一(yí)个(ge)苹(píng)果(guǒ)one apple — the second object, a thing

我(Wǒ)问(wèn)老(lǎo)师(shī)两(liǎng)个(ge)问(wèn)题(tí)。

I asked the teacher two questions.

问 + 老师 + 两个问题 ask + the teacher + two questions

我(wǒ)I

问(wèn)ask

老(lǎo)师(shī)the teacher — the first object, a person

两(liǎng)个(ge)问(wèn)题(tí)two questions — the second object, a thing

Subject + verb + person + thing

Meaning: one verb takes two objects: the person first, then the thing.

Examples:

给(gěi)我(wǒ)一(yì)杯(bēi)牛(niú)奶(nǎi)

give me a glass of milk

给(gěi)安(Ān)妮(nī)一(yí)个(ge)苹(píng)果(guǒ)

give Annie an apple

问(wèn)老(lǎo)师(shī)两(liǎng)个(ge)问(wèn)题(tí)

ask the teacher two questions