Show it to me.

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Teo  #324547  Mon, 05 Feb 07 07:34 AM

1. Show it to me. 2. Show me it.

#1 is correct. Is #2 also acceptable?

  
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Inchoateknowledge  #324554  Mon, 05 Feb 07 07:52 AM
 Teo wrote:

1. Show it to me. 2. Show me it.

#1 is correct. Is #2 also acceptable?

No difference in meaning. Only the syntax is different: direct or indirect object goes first.

  
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Yoong Liat  #324679  Mon, 05 Feb 07 04:17 PM
 Inchoateknowledge wrote:
 Teo wrote:

1. Show it to me. 2. Show me it.

#1 is correct. Is #2 also acceptable?

#2 doesn't sound right to me.

  
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Philip  #324690  Mon, 05 Feb 07 04:26 PM
 Yoong Liat wrote:
 Inchoateknowledge wrote:
 Teo wrote:

1. Show it to me. 2. Show me it.

#1 is correct. Is #2 also acceptable?

#2 doesn't sound right to me.

It doesn't sound right to me either.  Is it British?
  
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Inchoateknowledge  #324697  Mon, 05 Feb 07 04:36 PM

Show me it!

show = transitive verb

me = indirect object

it = direct object

This sentence does not go against any grammatical rules.

show it me

when the objects change place, the indirect object has to be converted to a prep phrase:

show it to me

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv111.shtml

  
Philip  #324736  Mon, 05 Feb 07 06:26 PM
 Inchoateknowledge wrote:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv111.shtml

I guess it isn't British, either.
  
nona the brit  #324742  Mon, 05 Feb 07 06:38 PM

Where does it say that?

You will hear it in Britain.

  
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Inchoateknowledge  #324751  Mon, 05 Feb 07 06:58 PM
 Philip wrote:
 Inchoateknowledge wrote:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv111.shtml

I guess it isn't British, either.

Either? why?

  
Grammar Geek  #324763  Mon, 05 Feb 07 07:21 PM

In the U.S., while you'll certainly hear "Show me [the object]" when the object is replaced by "it," you just don't keep this order.

Show the letter to me - okay

Show me the letter - okay

Show it to me - okay

Show me it - unexpected and uncommon

But apparently neither unexpected nor uncommon in BrE.

  
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Barbara, who answers in American English.
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