Two Objects in One Sentence

Level 4

Ek gee die boek vir haar. or Ek gee haar die boek. (I give her the book.) After the thing, the person always needs vir.

How It Works

1. Thing, then vir + person. This is the most usual order:

  • Ek gee die boek vir haar. (I give the book to her.)
  • Ek het die foto's vir my ouma gewys. (I showed the photos to my grandmother.)

2. Person first. The person can also come first, often without vir, especially when it is a pronoun or in fixed pairs:

  • Ek gee haar die boek. (I give her the book.)
  • Hy het my 'n lang storie vertel. (He told me a long story.)
  • Gee hom 'n kans. (Give him a chance.)

You will also hear vir in this position, especially in speech: Ons het vir haar blomme gekoop. See vir before a person.

3. After the thing, vir is needed. You cannot put the person after the thing without vir. Say die boek vir haar, never die boek haar.

4. With dit. When the thing is dit, the usual order is dit + vir + person: Gee dit vir my, asseblief. (Give it to me, please.)

5. Other verbs at the end. Both objects stand before the ge- form or infinitive: Ek het die boek vir haar gegee. Ek gaan vir hom 'n brief skryf. See het + ge-.

Tip: In formal writing, aan can replace vir with verbs of giving: Die prys is aan die wenner oorhandig. (The prize was handed to the winner.)

Examples (6)

  1. Ek gee die boek vir haar.

    I give the book to her.

    Word by Word: I give the book for her.

  2. Ek gee haar die boek.

    I give her the book.

    Word by Word: I give her the book.

    The person comes first, so vir can be left out.

  3. Hy het my 'n lang storie vertel.

    He told me a long story.

    Word by Word: He has me a long story told.

  4. Ek het die foto's vir my ouma gewys.

    I showed the photos to my grandmother.

    Word by Word: I have the photos for my grandma shown.

  5. Gee dit vir my, asseblief.

    Give it to me, please.

    Word by Word: Give it for me, please.

  6. Ons het vir haar blomme gekoop.

    We bought her flowers.

    Word by Word: We have for her flowers bought.

    Vir before the person is common in speech even when the person comes first.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the person after the thing without vir.

    Ek gee die boek haar.
    Ek gee die boek vir haar.

    When the person comes after the thing, vir must go before the person.

  • Putting the ge- form before the objects.

    Ek het gegee haar die boek.
    Ek het haar die boek gegee.

    The ge- form goes to the end, after both objects.

How It Connects

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Two Objects in One SentenceLevel 4

Learn This First

The thing commonly comes before vir plus the person, but the person may also come first, often without vir.

Words in This Pattern