ensure someone something

[LiuJing]

I know I can say 'give him a shirt', which means there are two objects following the verb 'give'.

Can 'ensure' have the same function? Like, the government must ensure its people basic means of life.??

[lauralie2]

Can 'ensure' have the same function? Like, the government must ensure its people basic means of life.??

Looks like it could work, but it doesn't work that way:

• The government must ensure/make sure its people basic means of life.

[LiuJing]

Looks like it could work, but it doesn't work that way:

• The government must ensure/make sure its people basic means of life.

How about the phrase:

to ensure our people the rights to subsistence and development

??

Thank you.

[2006]

I know I can say 'give him a shirt', which means there are two objects following the verb 'give'.

Can 'ensure' have the same function? Like, "The government must ensure its people basic means of life."??

Your sentence is fine.
"ensure" is a verb meaning 'guarantee'. "it's people" is an indirect object like "him", and "basic means of life" is a direct object like "a shirt".

But the sentence won't be correct with "make sure".
Ensure | Define Ensure at Dictionary.com