Double objects: 送/给/教/问 + someone + something
句型 / sentence patterns (双宾语句)
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
Subject + Verb + Person + Thing
Some verbs take two objects directly, with no preposition: first the person, then the thing. 他送我一本书 = he gives me a book.
Common verbs: 给 (give), 送 (give as a gift), 教 (teach), 问 (ask), 告诉 (tell), 还 (return), 借 (lend/borrow), 找 (give change).
Just like English "give me a book": never "give a book me".
Examples
请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.A glass of water, please.
老师教我们中文。
Lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen Zhōngwén.The teacher teaches us Chinese.
我想问你一个问题。
Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí.I'd like to ask you a question.
找您二十块。
Zhǎo nín èrshí kuài.Here's twenty yuan change.
告诉我你的电话号码。
Gàosu wǒ nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ.Tell me your phone number.
Common mistakes
✗ 他送一本书我 → ✓ 他送我一本书 (person first).
说 can't take two objects: ✗ 说我一件事 → ✓ 告诉我一件事 / 跟我说一件事.