Double-object sentences (2)

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

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

Here the verbs 拿, 送 and 卖 combine with 给 to form a double-object sentence.

Basic structure

Subject + verb + 给 + person + thing

Subject + 拿 / 送 / 卖 + 给 + person + thing

Meaning: to give, bring or sell something to someone.

王(Wáng)老(lǎo)师(shī)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)花(huā)，就(jiù)送(sòng)给(gěi)她(tā)花(huā)吧(ba)。

Teacher Wang likes flowers — let's give her flowers, then.

送 + 给 + 她 + 花 give + to her + flowers

王(Wáng)老(lǎo)师(shī)Teacher Wang

喜(xǐ)欢(huan)花(huā)likes flowers

送(sòng)给(gěi)她(tā)give her

花(huā)flowers

吧(ba)a suggesting tone

Here: 她 is the first object, a person 花 is the second object, a thing

她(Tā)拿(ná)给(gěi)我(wǒ)一(yì)杯(bēi)水(shuǐ)。

She brought me a glass of water.

拿 + 给 + 我 + 一杯水 bring + me + a glass of water

她(tā)she

拿(ná)给(gěi)bring to

我(wǒ)me

一(yì)杯(bēi)水(shuǐ)a glass of water

Here: 我 is the first object, a person 一杯水 is the second object, a thing

他(Tā)卖(mài)给(gěi)我(wǒ)一(yì)本(běn)中(Zhōng)文(wén)书(shū)。

He sold me a Chinese book.

卖 + 给 + 我 + 一本中文书 sell + me + a Chinese book

他(tā)he

卖(mài)给(gěi)sell to

我(wǒ)me

一(yì)本(běn)中(Zhōng)文(wén)书(shū)a Chinese book

Here: 我 is the first object, a person 一本中文书 is the second object, a thing

Subject + verb + 给 + person + thing

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

送给她花 — give her flowers 拿给我一杯水 — bring me a glass of water 卖给我一本中文书 — sell me a Chinese book