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A kidney from a twin: the passive with two objects: was given, was told

This B2 ESL lesson plan teaches the passive with two objects through the first successful kidney transplant, between identical twins in Boston in 1954.

Grammar
With give, offer, tell, award and other two-object verbs, either object can be the subject: Richard was given a kidney. A kidney was given to Richard. Say and explain take the thing first.
Topic
Why the 1954 transplant worked when earlier ones hadn't lasted, and who deserves the credit, with words such as donor, recipient, reject and immune system.
Activities
A science explainer to read, a desk debate and a reader's voice memo to hear, self-checking drills, a thank-you chat and question boxes.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1Warm-up: two of a kind

    • PictureUnlock
    • Spin the wheel and answerSpin the wheelUnlock
    • Study the words: a new kidneyVocabularyTry it
    • Look at the pictures and choose the wordChoose by pictureUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Let's read: two rooms, one success

    • Look at the picture: two operating rooms, side by sidePictureUnlock
    • Read Harper's explainer on The Why DeskArticleUnlock
    • Read and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Read again and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock
    • Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Let's listen: science, luck or a spreadsheet?

    • Listen to Harper and IsaiahListeningTry it
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock
    • Listen to the Reader's Rebuttal: Gail from MassachusettsListeningUnlock
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Grammar: Richard was given a kidney

    • Study the scheme: a person, a thing and two passivesGrammar schemeTry it
    • Choose the correct optionChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: the same sentence in the passiveFill in the gapsTry it
    • Fill in the table: two passives for each sentenceFill in the tableUnlock
    • Choose the correct answer: which sentence is correct?QuizUnlock
    • Put the words in the correct orderUnjumbleUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Let's talk: thanks, and who gets the credit?

    • Choose the right replies: thank Dom for the booksChatTry it
    • Open a box and answer: science, luck and creditOpen the boxUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Match the words and the meaningsMatchUnlock
    • Unscramble the wordsAnagramUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with the lesson's wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Find the matching pairs: words and meaningsMemory gameUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: new sentencesChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: the same sentence in the passiveFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Put the words in the correct order: new sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
    • Choose the correct answer: which sentence means the same?QuizUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: a hospital history timelineChoose the optionUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: the Why Desk answers GailDrag and dropUnlock

33 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Vocabulary

12 words and phrases from the lesson, each with a picture and audio in edio.

+9 more with pictures and audio in the lessonMore words

  • recipient
  • organ
  • kidney
  • transplant
  • reject
  • identical twin
  • immune system
  • dry run
  • deserve

Grammar: the passive with two objects

Verbs like give, offer and tell often have two objects, a person and a thing: The team gave Richard a kidney. In the passive, either one can become the subject. A story of operations offered, risks told and prizes awarded lets learners choose the subject by what the story is about, then add to where it belongs.

Richard was given a kidney. A kidney was given to Richard.

Give, offer, send, show, tell, award, promise and lend often have two objects: a person and a thing. In the passive, either one can be the subject.

One active sentence, two passives

They awarded Murray the Nobel Prize becomes Murray was awarded the Nobel Prize or The Nobel Prize was awarded to Murray. The person first is the more common choice. With tell, the person almost always comes first: The twins were told the risks.

ActivePassive: the person firstPassive: the thing first (+ to)
The team gave Richard a kidney.Richard was given a kidney.A kidney was given to Richard.
They awarded Murray the Nobel Prize.Murray was awarded the Nobel Prize.The Nobel Prize was awarded to Murray.
They offered the brothers the operations.The brothers were offered the operations.The operations were offered to the brothers.
Gail sent Harper and Isaiah a voice memo.Harper and Isaiah were sent a voice memo.A voice memo was sent to Harper and Isaiah.
Leona showed Harper the draft.Harper was shown the draft.The draft was shown to Harper.
Isaiah lent Harper a laptop.Harper was lent a laptop.A laptop was lent to Harper.
Leona promised the readers an answer.The readers were promised an answer.An answer was promised to the readers.
The doctors told the twins the risks.The twins were told the risks.with tell, people almost always put the person first

Was or were given, in any tense

Be carries the person and the tense: I was given, they were given, Harper has been sent two mugs, Gail will be sent an answer, Readers can be shown the photos. The past participle never changes: given, sent, shown, lent.

was / were given, for every person

PersonPast simple passiveExample
II was givenI was given a camera for my birthday.
youyou were givenYou were given the wrong key.
hehe was givenRichard was given his twin's kidney.
sheshe was givenShe was given a desk by the window.
itit was givenPascal was given a new dock.
wewe were givenWe were given two weeks for the story.
theythey were givenMy cousins were given the same presents.

Other tenses work the same way

TenseThe person firstThe thing first
present simpleNew reporters are given a mug.A mug is given to every new reporter.
present perfectHarper has been sent two mugs.Two mugs have been sent to Harper.
past perfectThe brothers had been offered the operations.The operations had been offered to the brothers.
futureGail will be sent an answer.An answer will be sent to Gail.
with a modalReaders can be shown the photos.The photos can be shown to readers.

Which comes first, and where does to go?

Start with the person when the story is about the person, with no to: Richard was given a kidney. Start with the thing, and to goes before the person: The kidney was given to Richard. The twins were told about the risks is right too.

Which one comes first?

Put the person first when the story is about the person. This is the most common choice: Richard was given a kidney. Put the thing first when the story is about the thing, and add to before the person: The kidney was given to Richard. With tell, the person usually comes first: The twins were told the risks. The twins were told about the risks is right too.

to: only when the thing comes first

The person first: no to. Richard was given a kidney (not: was given to a kidney). The thing first: to before the person. A kidney was given to Richard (not: was given Richard). And use be + the past participle: was given, were sent, was lent (not: was gave, was lended).

Say and explain: the thing first

Tell can have a person right after it, but say and explain can't, so their person never becomes the subject. Put the thing first with these two verbs: The risks were explained to the twins, not The twins were explained the risks or were said the risks.

say and explain: no person after them

Tell can have a person right after it, so the person can be the subject: The twins were told the risks. Say and explain can't: not “The twins were said the risks” and not “The twins were explained the risks.” Put the thing first instead: The risks were explained to the twins.

Examples and common mistakes

The scheme's examples come from Boston and the office: In 1990, Murray was awarded the Nobel Prize. Next week, an answer will be sent to Gail. Its four mistakes break the rules above: was given to a kidney, was given Richard, was gave and were said the risks.

In Boston and at The Why Desk

  • In 1954, Richard was given his twin's kidney.
  • The brothers were offered the operations after many long talks.
  • The twins were told the risks in detail.
  • In 1990, Murray was awarded the Nobel Prize.
  • Isaiah's cousins were given the same presents every birthday.
  • Next week, an answer will be sent to Gail.

Common mistakes

  • Richard was given to a kidney.

    Richard was given a kidney.

    the person first: no to

  • A kidney was given Richard.

    A kidney was given to Richard.

    the thing first: to before the person

  • The prize was gave to Murray.

    The prize was given to Murray.

    be + the past participle: given

  • The twins were said the risks.

    The twins were told the risks.

    say has no person after it: use tell

More lessons on this grammar: Passive voice lessons and exercises

Try the passive with two objects exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 18 auto-checked exercises
  • 6 games
  • 1 article
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 set of word cards
  • 2 audio clips
  • 2 pictures
  • 2 transcripts

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • put the person first: Richard was given a kidney. Murray was awarded the Nobel Prize. The twins were told the risks.
  • put the thing first, with to before the person: The Nobel Prize was awarded to Murray. The operations were offered to the brothers.
  • use both orders in other tenses: Harper has been sent two mugs. An answer will be sent to Gail.
  • keep say and explain with the thing first: The risks were explained to the twins, not The twins were explained the risks.
  • thank someone for a gift: Our class was sent thirty new books. Every student was given a book on the first day.

Lesson 8 closes Health breakthroughs, unit 2 of English B2.1 · How the World Works. It takes the passives of B1.2 and lesson 6 to verbs with a person and a thing, after have something done in lesson 7. Lesson 9 opens Moving people with the past perfect continuous. A transplant is a story of things given, offered and told, so it needs both kinds of passive.

Students spin a wheel of questions about twins, gifts and credit, then learn twelve words, from award and offer to immune system and dry run, with pictures and audio. They read Harper's explainer on why the 1954 transplant worked, then hear Harper and Isaiah argue about science and luck, and Gail from Massachusetts say they both forgot the donor; both are AI-voiced. The grammar chapter has the scheme and five self-checking exercises, among them a table with two passives for each sentence. In the speaking chapter, students thank a bookstore owner for a box of books in a chat and open boxes about science, luck and credit.

All ten homework tasks check themselves: a match, an anagram, gaps with the lesson's words and a memory game; then form choices, passives to rewrite, word order and a quiz on meaning in new sentences; then a kidney transplant timeline with forms to choose and Harper and Isaiah's answer to Gail with words to drag in.

Grammar:
passive with two objects · the passive · give someone something · indirect objects
Topic:
the first successful kidney transplant · Joseph Murray · the Herrick twins · Boston · organ transplants · medical history · The Why Desk

Teaching tips

  • Write one active sentence on the board: They awarded Murray the Nobel Prize. Students make both passives, then say which one fits a story about Murray and which one fits a story about the prize.
  • Ask what a donor gives up before the reading. Students then read to find what was new about Ronald's operation: he was healthy, and it wasn't for his own benefit.
  • Play the desk debate twice: first to hear who says science and who says luck, then for every was given, were told and was sent. Students note who was given or sent what.
  • Test say, tell and explain with the person first. Only The twins were told the risks works; the other two need the thing first: The plan was explained to the patient.

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The whole course: English B2.1 · How the World Works

32 lessons for adults at B2 in American English, each answering one question about how the world works. The team of The Why Desk, a small online magazine in Pittsburgh, takes on one question a week, from the day a computer beat the world chess champion to eight people sealed inside Biosphere 2. Learners tell stories with narrative tenses, speculate about the past and the future, and report what experts claim. The practice exercises check themselves.See the course

  1. Unit 1 AI and the future of work

    narrative tenses, by and until, be bound to and be likely to, the future perfect

    1. Lesson 1Checkmate: the day a computer beat the championNarrative tenses: past simple, past continuous and past perfect
    2. Lesson 2The robot car that crossed the desertTime prepositions: by, until, within, throughout, in time and on time
    3. Lesson 3Can a chatbot fool you?Probability about the future: be bound to, be likely to, the chances are
    4. Lesson 4By 2035, what will AI have designed?The future perfect simple: will have + past participle

  2. Unit 2 Health breakthroughs

    the third conditional, the past perfect and past continuous passive, have something done, the passive with two objects

    1. Lesson 5The moldy melon that changed medicineThe third conditional: if + had done, would have done
    2. Lesson 61.8 million Polio PioneersThe past perfect passive and the past continuous passive
    3. Lesson 7One clinic, many doctorsHave / get something done
    4. Lesson 8 · you're hereA kidney from a twinThe passive with two objects

  3. Unit 3 Moving people

    the past perfect continuous, the passive infinitive and -ing form, it's worth and there's no point, the future in the past

    1. Lesson 9Six years to the golden spikeThe past perfect continuous vs the past perfect simple
    2. Lesson 10Riding a pod with no driverThe passive infinitive and the passive -ing form
    3. Lesson 11The town that painted bike lanes firstIt's worth, there's no point and it's no use + -ing
    4. Lesson 12The highways that were supposed to take 13 yearsThe future in the past

  4. Unit 4 Wildlife comebacks

    reporting verbs with a that clause, with an object and infinitive and with -ing, verbs of perception

    1. Lesson 13Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers?Reporting verbs + that clause
    2. Lesson 14Bringing a parrot back from the edgeReporting verbs + object + (not) to + base form
    3. Lesson 15The beavers that came by parachuteReporting verbs + -ing and verb + preposition + -ing
    4. Lesson 16Fifteen bison take the trainVerbs of perception + object + base form or -ing

  5. Unit 5 Pop culture goes global

    comment adverbs, wish and if only for the present and the past, have someone do and get someone to do

    1. Lesson 17The party that started hip hopComment adverbs: apparently, supposedly, undoubtedly
    2. Lesson 18Slide to the left!Wish and if only for wishes about now
    3. Lesson 19If only they'd kept SupermanWish and if only + past perfect for regrets
    4. Lesson 20The hit factory on West Grand BoulevardCausative have and get: have someone do, get someone to do

  6. Unit 6 Money and smart choices

    -ever words and no matter, should have and could have, prepositions for numbers and change, it's time and would rather

    1. Lesson 21The bank that never closed-ever words and no matter
    2. Lesson 22One marshmallow now or two later?Should have, shouldn't have and could have
    3. Lesson 23Benjamin Franklin's 200-year giftPrepositions for numbers and change
    4. Lesson 24Why buy a drill you'll use once?It's (high) time and would rather + past simple

  7. Unit 7 Language and communication

    must have, might have and can't have, verb prefixes and suffixes, past modals in continuous and passive forms, agreement with quantities

    1. Lesson 25How did one man write down a language?Past modals of deduction: must have, might have, can't have
    2. Lesson 26Why do Americans write “color”?Verb prefixes and suffixes: misspell, rewrite, simplify, shorten
    3. Lesson 27The joke that needed a smileyPast modals in continuous and passive forms
    4. Lesson 28Can preschoolers save a language?Subject-verb agreement with quantities and collective nouns

  8. Unit 8 Exploring the extremes

    dimension nouns, the future continuous and future perfect continuous, compound adjectives, only, even and just

    1. Lesson 29A walk on the ocean floorDimension nouns and phrases: depth, width, height
    2. Lesson 30Six months of night at the South PoleThe future continuous and the future perfect continuous
    3. Lesson 31Flying on pedal powerCompound adjectives with numbers and participles
    4. Lesson 32Two years under glassFocus adverbs: only, even, just and at all

Questions about this lesson

What is the passive with two objects?
Some verbs, such as give, offer, send and award, take two objects: a person and a thing. In the passive, either object can be the subject: Richard was given a kidney or A kidney was given to Richard. The person first is more common. The B2 lesson A kidney from a twin on edio.ai teaches it with the first successful kidney transplant, in Boston in 1954.
Which verbs take two objects in the passive?
The common ones are give, offer, send, show, tell, award, promise and lend: Harper was lent a laptop. The readers were promised an answer. Say and explain aren't on the list: they can't have a person right after them, so only the thing can be the subject. The scheme in A kidney from a twin on edio.ai turns one active sentence into two passives for each verb but tell.
What are some examples of the passive with two objects?
Four from A kidney from a twin on edio.ai: In 1954, Richard was given his twin's kidney. The brothers were offered the operations after many long talks. The twins were told the risks in detail. The Nobel Prize was awarded to Murray and E. Donnall Thomas. The first three start with the person; the last starts with the thing, so it needs to.
What's the difference between “Richard was given a kidney” and “A kidney was given to Richard”?
The facts are the same, but the focus changes. Richard was given a kidney is about Richard, so it fits a story about the patient. A kidney was given to Richard is about the kidney, and with the thing first, to goes before the person. That's why the person first is more common: stories are usually about people. A kidney from a twin, a B2 lesson on edio.ai, has a table with both passives for each sentence.
Is it “the twins were said the risks” or “the twins were told the risks”?
It's the twins were told the risks. Say can't have a person right after it, so the person can't become the subject of its passive; the same goes for explain. Use tell, or put the thing first: The risks were explained to the twins. The twins were told about the risks is right too. It's one of four common mistakes in A kidney from a twin, a B2 lesson on edio.ai.
Who performed the first successful kidney transplant?
A team at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, on December 23, 1954. Dr. J. Hartwell Harrison removed a kidney from Ronald Herrick, and in the next operating room, Dr. Joseph Murray attached it to Ronald's identical twin, Richard; Dr. John Merrill, a kidney specialist, was on the team. Murray shared the 1990 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with E. Donnall Thomas. A kidney from a twin on edio.ai tells the story.
Why did the first kidney transplant work?
Because the donor and the patient were identical twins with the same genes, so Richard's immune system didn't reject the kidney. Earlier transplants had worked only for a short time. With no DNA tests yet, the doctors checked that the brothers were identical with skin grafts and with fingerprints taken at a Boston police station. Richard lived eight more years and became a husband and father. A kidney from a twin on edio.ai explains how.
How do I teach the passive with two objects to B2 students?
Begin with gifts and prizes from students' own lives: I was given a camera for my birthday. Then show the active sentence behind it and the thing-first passive with to. A kidney from a twin on edio.ai moves from Harper's explainer and the office argument to the scheme, a gap-fill that rewrites sentences in the passive and four more exercises.
What's a good game for practicing the passive with two objects?
Play “Who was given what?”: each student secretly writes down a gift they once got and who gave it. The class guesses with passives in both orders: Were you given a bike? Was it given to you by your grandparents? For speaking, the boxes in A kidney from a twin on edio.ai ask questions like Should prizes like the Nobel Prize be awarded to whole teams?
What's good homework for the passive with two objects?
Good homework makes students choose the order: active sentences to rewrite in the passive, choices between was awarded and was awarded to, and a quiz on which passive means the same as an active sentence. All ten homework tasks in A kidney from a twin on edio.ai check themselves, including a timeline of kidney transplant history with forms to choose.
How do you practice the passive with two objects one-to-one?
Talk about firsts: the student's first job, first phone or first prize, with questions like What were you given on your first day? and Were you shown the building? Then switch roles. The chat in A kidney from a twin on edio.ai works without a partner: the student thanks Dom, a bookstore owner, and the right reply is Our class was sent thirty new books, not was sent to thirty.
Are there interactive exercises for the passive with two objects?
Yes. With no account, this page plays three parts of A kidney from a twin, a B2 lesson on edio.ai: Harper and Isaiah's argument about science and luck; a gap-fill that turns active sentences into passives; and a chat to thank Dom for the books. Everything else needs an account.
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