Question This is the CD I lent (to) Tom.

[hirashin]

Dear native English speakers,
Which would be used? If all are used, what's the difference between one with "to" and one without "to"?

(1a) This is the CD I lent Tom.
(1b) This is the CD I lent to Tom.

(2a) This is the CD I lent him.
(2b) This is the CD I lent to him.

Hirashin

 

[Buntaro]

Which would be used?

Hirashin,

All are correct but 1b and 2a are the most common. The rules for pronouns are just different. We can say:

1. look a word up in a dictionary
2. look up a word in a dictionary
3. look it up in a dictionary
4. (wrong) look up it in a dictionary

1, 2 and 3 are okay but 4 is a mistake. Students just have to learn the rules of exception for pronouns.