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B2 Pre-advanced
B2 grammar contents
B2Passive and distancing

Passive verbs with two objects

Form passive sentences from verbs such as give, send, offer and award, choosing either recipient or thing as the passive subject when grammar permits.

Overview

What this grammar does

Form passive sentences from verbs such as give, send, offer and award, choosing either recipient or thing as the passive subject when grammar permits.

Form and rules

How it works

1

Two-object active pattern: They gave Maya the prize / They gave the prize to Maya.

2

Recipient passive: Maya was given the prize; this is often the most natural English passive.

3

Thing passive: The prize was given to Maya; the preposition to/for remains where required.

4

Common verbs allowing two passive choices include give, send, offer, show, teach, tell and award.

5

Not every verb with two semantic participants allows both passive patterns, so check the verb's complementation rather than generalizing blindly.

A closer look

Meaning and use

Common verbs allowing two passive choices include give, send, offer, show, teach, tell and award.

Not every verb with two semantic participants allows both passive patterns, so check the verb's complementation rather than generalizing blindly.

Examples

See the pattern in complete sentences

I was offered a promotion.

A promotion was offered to me.

She was sent the revised contract.

The prize was awarded to a local researcher.

We were shown the new facilities.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

They offered me a refund. → I offered a refund myself.
They offered me a refund. → I was offered a refund.

The recipient can become the passive subject directly.

They gave the award to Sam. → The award was given Sam to.
They gave the award to Sam. → The award was given to Sam.

When the thing is passive subject, keep to before the recipient.

Ready to practise?

The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.

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