Why do we have to say explain "to"???

Me dio el libro.He gave me the book.

Me dijo el cuento.He told me the story.

Me vendió el libro.He sold me the book.

Me envió el libro.He sent me the book.

Me explicó el libro.He explained to me the book.

Explaining it requires getting into something

that most natives give no thought to:

Direct and Indirect Objects

There are two objects in the

sentence below:

My aunt gave my uncle an inflatable doll for

Christmas.

Which is the direct object, and which is the indirect object?

The direct object is an inflatable doll -- because it's the 'thing' that

my aunt gave.

The indirect object is therefore my uncle, who receives that 'thing'.

He gave me the book.He gave the book to me.

He sold me the book.He sold the book to me.

He read me the book.He read the book to me.

He sent me the book.He sent the book to me.

He explained to me the book.He explained the book to me.

As you can see, there is nothing out of the ordinary when the direct object is

mentioned first. Explain works just like all the other verbs:

He gave the book to me.He sold the book to me.He read the book to me.He sent the book to me.

He explained the book to me.

But notice what happens with explain when we use the indirect

object first:

He gave me the book.He sold me the book.He read me the book.He sent me the book.

He explained to me the book.

Explain is one of several verbs that must be followed by "to" if

immediately followed by an indirect object.

Some other verbs that fit into this category are:

DescribeSay

ReportPropose

AnnounceSuggest

RecommendBroadcastMention

ComplainIndicateConfess

*Talk*Listen