如果一个动词带有双宾语，在变为被动语态时，可将其中的一个宾语变为主语，另一个不动，但通常是将间接宾语为主语。如：
He gave me a book yesterday. 昨天他给了我一本书。
→I was given a book by him yesterday. 昨天由他给了我一本书。
→A book was given (to) me by him yesterday. 昨天一本书由他给了我。
若把直接宾语（指物）改为主语，则通常要在间接宾语（指人）前加适当的介词。按英语习惯，在bring, give, hand, lend, offer, pass, sell, show, take, tell等动词后通常用介词to来引出间接宾语，在build, buy, cook, cut, choose, do, fetch, find, fix, get, keep, make, order, paint, play, sing等动词后通常用介词for来引出间接宾语。如：
I bought her a dictionary. 我给她买了本词典。
→A dictionary was bought for her. 买了本词典给她。
由于某些动词与介词有习惯搭配，既不用to也不用for，而用别的介词。如：
People all over the world know the Great Wall. 世界上的人都知道长城。
→The Great Wall is known to people all over the world. 世界上的人都知道长城。