Study materials
These sentences have two objects, and their order depends on the verb and on whether a pronoun is used.
Grandma gave Olena the necklace.
She explained the problem to him.
Turn it off.
This article explains the two orders with give, send and show, verbs that take only to such as explain and describe, and where a pronoun goes in a phrasal verb.
To whom and what
The verbs give, send, show, tell, offer and lend have two orders. You choose the one that puts the news at the end.
Grandma gave Olena the old necklace.
The news is what she gave.
Grandma gave the old necklace to Olena.
The news is whom she gave it to.
A pronoun is usually known, so it comes before a noun: gave her the necklace, gave it to Olena. With two pronouns the usual order is gave it to her.
Some verbs have only one order, with to. These are explain, describe, suggest, introduce and report. Ukrainian says the equivalent of explained him the problem, but English allows only explained the problem to him.
Pronouns in phrasal verbs
A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a particle, such as turn off, pick up or put away. A noun can come before or after the particle. A long, new noun goes more naturally after the particle, at the end.
Turn off the lights in the kitchen.
A long object at the end.
Turn the lights off.
A short object can also go in the middle.
Turn it off.
A pronoun only in the middle.
A pronoun always goes between the verb and the particle, because it is known and short. Turn off it is impossible.
If a phrasal verb has two particles, such as put up with or look forward to, the pronoun goes at the end: I can't put up with it.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is the order without to after explain.
She explained him the problem. → She explained the problem to him.
Explain has only the order with to.
The second mistake is a pronoun after the particle.
Please turn off it. → Please turn it off.
The pronoun goes between the verb and the particle.
The third mistake is a pronoun between the particles.
I can't put up it with. → I can't put up with it.
The pronoun goes at the end.
The first mistake shows right after explain, describe or suggest. The person does not stand there but goes to the end after to. The second shows at the end of a phrasal verb. If a pronoun stands there, it must come before the particle. The third shows in a verb with two particles. The pronoun comes after both.