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The indirect object

B1Word Order · lesson 31 of 69

We already discussed the indirect object in the section about the [reduced indirect object](#/lesson/WordOrder.06). But to refresh your memory: The indirect object is the recipient of the direct object. In English, this object is preceded by either 'to' or 'for'. E.g. "I give the book to her" and "I bought a book for her".

The prepositions 'to' and 'for' can be omitted but then we are dealing with a reduced direct object, which appears in the left part.

A few common verbs that can be connected to an indirect object:

beloven aan | to promise to | kopen voor | to buy for

betalen aan | to pay to | koken voor | to cook for

geven aan | to give to | maken voor | to make for

vertellen aan | to tell to | meenemen voor | to bring along for

Examples

[FF](#/lesson/WordOrder.04) | [DIROB](#/lesson/WordOrder.16) | INDOB | [OV](#/lesson/WordOrder.24)

Het bedrijf zal | een groot bedrag | aan een liefdadigheidsinstelling | schenken

The company will donate a large sum to a charity organisation.

Besides _aan_, an indirect object can also take the preposition _voor_:

[FF](#/lesson/WordOrder.04) | [DIROB](#/lesson/WordOrder.16) | INDOB | [OV](#/lesson/WordOrder.24)

De kok had | een heerlijke maaltijd | voor ons | bereid

The chef (cook) had prepared a delicious meal for us.

EHD-postposition The complement
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