Indirect objects

Sentence: "I explained her what your concerns are."

I know that this sentence is not written correctly. It should be "I explained to her", but how do you explain this. You can say "I gave her the ball" or "I gave the ball to her".

Is the correct way to write the above sentence then - "I explained what your concerns are to her". "I explained to her what your concerns are", or "I explained your concerns to her".

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Sentence: "I explained her what your concerns are."

I know that this sentence is not written correctly. It should be "I explained to her", but how do you explain this. You can say "I gave her the ball" or "I gave the ball to her".

Is the correct way to write the above sentence then - "I explained what your concerns are to her". "I explained to her what your concerns are", or "I explained your concerns to her".

Only ditransitive verbs (tw objects) can take both a direct and an indirect object. "Explain" is monotransitive (one object). The verb "tell" (and give) is ditransitive:

I told her what your concerns are.