TOEFL Writing Part 1: Identifying Verbs Taking SVOO
Grammatical Structures in Writing Part 1
In the new TOEFL Writing Section Part 1, you are required to arrange words from a word bank to form a complete and grammatical sentence. As the questions progress, the sentence structures become gradually more complex. In particular, the later questions often involve specific grammatical constructions.
One such construction, which this article focuses on, is SVOO sentence structure.
SVOO Sentence Structure
Some questions require grammatical knowledge of the SVOO sentence structure. In an SVOO sentence, the main verb is followed by two consecutive objects: first the indirect object and then the direct object.
- Indirect object: the person or thing that receives the action
- Direct object: the thing that is given, shown, told, sent, or otherwise transferred to the indirect object
Simply put, a basic SVOO sentence follows the word order below:
SVOO Construction
Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
It is important to note that not all verbs can be used in the SVOO pattern. In fact, only a limited number of verbs commonly allow this structure. Below is a list of common verbs that can be used to form an SVOO sentence:
- give
- show
- tell
- send
- teach
- pass
- hand
- promise
- award
- grant
- deny
Now, let’s look at how these verbs are used in actual SVOO sentences.
Examples of SVOO Structure
I bought him a present.
- Subject: I
- Verb: bought
- Indirect object (recipient): him
- Direct object (thing bought and given): a present.
In this sentence, him is the indirect object because it refers to the person who receives something. A present is the direct object because it refers to the thing that is bought and given. This word order, Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object, is a typical SVOO pattern.
She handed me the key.
- Subject: She
- Verb: handed
- Indirect object (recipient): me
- Direct object (thing given): the key
In this sentence, me is the indirect object because it refers to the person who receives something. The key is the direct object because it refers to the thing that is handed to that person. This sentence follows the SVOO pattern: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object.
The guard denied him entry.
- Subject: The guard]
- Verb: denied
- Indirect object (recipient / affected person): him
- Direct object (thing denied): entry
In this sentence, him is the indirect object because he is the person affected by the action. Entry is the direct object because it refers to the thing that is refused or not given. This sentence also follows the SVOO pattern: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object.
Now it’s your turn. Try the following TOEFL Writing Part 1 questions and test your understanding of the SVOO sentence structure.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Explanation
The subject “The librarian” is already given in the sentence frame. Among the words in the word bank, “handed” is the only verb, so it must be placed first after the subject.
The librarian handed
Next, think about the structure of “hand.” This verb can take an SVOO pattern:
- hand someone something
So after “handed,” we need:
- an indirect object showing who received something
- a direct object showing what was given
Here, “the visitor” is the person who receives something, so it must come first. The remaining words “a map” form the thing that was handed over.
This gives the correct sentence:
The librarian handed the visitor a map.
- S = The librarian
- V = handed
- O1 = the visitor
- O2 = a map
Question 2
Explanation
First, identify the verb in the word bank. Among the words provided, “assigned” is the only verb, so it must function as the main verb of the sentence.
Next, determine the subject. The article “the” and the noun “organizer” combine naturally to form the subject:
the organizer
Now consider the structure required by “assign.” This verb allows a double-object (SVOO) structure:
assign someone something
Since there is no preposition such as “to” in the word bank, the sentence must follow the SVOO pattern rather than SVO + prepositional phrase.
Now examine the remaining words:
- “late guests” refers to people, so it functions as the indirect object
- “shared rooms” refers to the thing provided, so it functions as the direct object
The organizer assigned late guests shared rooms.
This sentence matches the prompt because shared rooms are a form of accommodation arranged for guests who arrived late.
Question 3
Explanation
A useful way to approach this question is to begin with the word that controls the whole sentence: “offered.” Since it is the only finite verb in the word bank, it must serve as the main verb.
Once “offered” is identified, the next step is to find a subject. The only words that can form a natural subject are “the” and “staff,” so the sentence must begin with:
The staff offered
At that point, the remaining words need to be arranged according to the pattern required by “offer.” This verb commonly allows a double-object structure:
offer someone something
That means one object must refer to the receiver, and the other must refer to the thing given.
Among the remaining words, “stranded families” clearly refers to people, so it must be the indirect object, the group receiving something. The phrase “spare blankets” refers to the thing provided, so it must be the direct object.
This produces the only natural arrangement:
The staff offered stranded families spare blankets.
Another way to confirm the answer is to test the reversed order. “The staff offered spare blankets stranded families” is not grammatical, because in an SVOO structure, the recipient must come before the thing being given.
So the completed sentence is:
The staff offered stranded families spare blankets.
