Passive voice: verbs with two objects

Some verbs can take two objects, we usually put the indirect object before the direct object,
e.g.,

The company​ paid ​Carolyn Davidson​ only ​$35 dollars​ for her design of the Nike logo.
Subject Indirect object Direct object

In the passive voice, you can start the sentence with any of the two objects, depending on
where you want to put the focus in the passive sentence:

If you want to focus on the indirect object of the sentence in the active voice, when you make
the sentence in the passive voice, you start the sentence with it, so it becomes the subject of
the sentence in the passive voice:

Carolyn Davidson​ was paid only $35 dollars for her design of the Nike logo by the company.

f you want to focus on the direct object of the sentence in the active voice, when you make
the sentence in the passive voice, you start the sentence with it, so it becomes the subject of
the sentence in the passive voice:

Only $35 dollars​ were paid to Carolyn Davidson for her design of the Nike logo by the
company.

We usually use the preposition ​to​ or ​for ​with the indirect object, it depends on the verb:

Send me an email.
Send an email ​to​ me.

They brought me some flowers.

They brought some flowers ​for ​me.

Examples of verbs with two objects​:

Ask

Buy

Book

Bring

Cook

Cost
Find

Get

Give sb sth /give sth to sb

Explain sth ​to​ sb/ explain ​to​ sb sth:

Can you explain the problem to me?

Can you explain to me the problem?

Can you explain me this exercise? This is ​incorrect

Can you explain ​to ​me this exercise? This is ​correct

Hand

Introduce

Keep

Leave

Lend

Make

Offer

Owe

Pass

Pay

Promise

Read

Refuse

Save

Sell

Send
Show

Sing

Take

Teach

Tell

Wish

Write

Practice

Write these sentences in the passive voice, using the direct and the indirect object to start:

1. The company gave Carolyn Davidson a gold ring in the shape of the logo and Nike
shares.
a) Carolyn Davidson……………………………………………………………………..
b) A gold ring …………………………………………………………………………….

2. Charles Darrow introduced the game Monopoly to the toy company Parker Brothers.
a) The game Monopoly………………………………………………………………….
b) The toy company Parker Brothers ………………………………………………….

3. The Parker Brothers company wrote a letter to Charles Darrow to buy his invention.
a) Charles Darrow………………………………………………………………………..
b) A letter …………………………………………………………………………………

4. The American rich woman Josephine Cochrane gave a lot of dinner parties for her friends
and important people.
a) A lot of dinner parties………………………………….. .
b) Josephine Cochrane’s friends and many important
people……………………………………………………..

5. Hotels and restaurants bought Josephine Cochrane her invention of the dishwasher first.
a) ……………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………

6. Your example:
……………………………………………………………………….
Exchange your sentence with another classmate to write the two forms in the passive voice:
a) ……………………………………………………………….
b) ……………………………………………………………….