Explanation
Use this pattern when one verb takes a person and a thing. In "I gave my sister a book," "I" is the subject, "gave" is the verb, "my sister" is the person who gets the book, and "a book" is the thing. English often puts the person before the thing in this pattern. Japanese often says "妹に本をあげた," using "に" for the person and "を" for the thing. You can also say "I gave a book to my sister," but do not say "I gave to my sister a book."
1つの動詞が「人」と「物」の2つの目的語を取るときに使います。たとえば "I gave my sister a book." では、"I" が主語、"gave" が動詞、"my sister" が受け取る人、"a book" が渡す物です。英語ではこの型で、先に人、後ろに物を置くことがよくあります。日本語では「妹に本をあげた」のように、「に」と「を」で表します。"I gave a book to my sister." も言えますが、"I gave to my sister a book." とは言いません。
Examples
- I gave my sister a book. 私は妹に本をあげました。
- Please send me the file. そのファイルを送ってください。
- Can you show me your ID? 身分証を見せてくれますか。
- She told us a funny story. 彼女は私たちに面白い話をしてくれました。
- He bought his mom flowers. 彼はお母さんに花を買いました。
- I didn't send him the email. 私は彼にそのメールを送りませんでした。
Common Mistakes
Japanese learners often put "to" in the wrong place and say "I gave to my sister a book." The correct form is "I gave my sister a book." If you want to use "to", move it after the object: "I gave a book to my sister." Also remember the article: say "a book," not "book."
日本語の「妹に本をあげた」の感覚で、"to" を入れて "I gave to my sister a book." としてしまいがちです。正しくは "I gave my sister a book." です。"to" を使うなら、"I gave a book to my sister." のように後ろに置きます。さらに、"a book" のように単数の可算名詞には冠詞も必要です。