Verbs: Some common mistakes

The verb write can take two objects. Sometimes this causes problems.

• Incorrect: He wrote me.
• Correct: He wrote to me.

Notes

We write something. (He wrote a letter.)

We write something to someone. (He wrote a letter to his mother.) (NOT He wrote a letter his mother.)

We write someone something. (He wrote his mother a letter.) (NOT He wrote to his mother a letter.)

We write to someone. (He wrote to me.) (NOT He wrote me.)

Explain
The verb explain can be followed by two objects – a direct object and an indirect object.
Note that we explain something to someone. (NOT We explain someone something.)

• Incorrect: I shall explain them this.
• Correct: I shall explain this to them.

The verb suggest

We suggest something to somebody. We cannot suggest somebody something.

• Incorrect: He suggested me this.
• Correct: He suggested this to me.

Oblige

The verb oblige takes the preposition to. When you are obliged to do something, you are forced to do it because it is a law, a rule or a duty.

• I felt obliged to help him.
• I am obliged to you for this good turn. (NOT I am obliged of you for this good turn.)

The verb invite

The verb invite can be followed by to or for.
We invite someone to/for something:

• I have invited my uncle and aunt to dinner.
• He invited me for a drink but I politely refused.

The verb tell

The verb tell does not take a preposition.

• Incorrect: He told to me to go.
• Correct: He told me to go.

The verb ask

When ask is followed by two objects, the indirect object (the person) normally comes first, without a preposition.

• Incorrect: She did not ask any question to him.
• Correct: She did not ask him any question.
• Incorrect: I will ask the time to that man.
• Correct: I will ask that man the time.

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