Verb + à someone or something
offrir
à
The constructions
àoffrir quelque chose à quelqu'un
Il a offert des fleurs à sa mère.
Do not writeIl a offert sa mère des fleurs.
Why
Offrir quelque chose à quelqu'un: the thing is direct, the person indirect, and the order is fixed. English « give someone something » reverses the two, and that is where the mistake comes from. Donner, prêter, envoyer, montrer follow the same order.
The trap for a Chinese speaker
送給某人某物: Chinese puts the person BEFORE the thing, as English does. French puts the thing first, then à + the person.
Read the full lesson : Indirect object pronouns →