I wrote

[mimi2]

Is it right to write like this:
I wrote for my mother a letter yesterday.
Thanks.

 

[Mr Bones]

I would say:

I wrote a letter to my mother yesterday.

and:

I wrote my mother a letter yesterday.

But you'd better wait for what natives say

Bones

 

[mimi2]

Hi Mr Bones,
What does this sentence mean?
I wrote a letter for my mother.
Thanks.

 

[petereid]

I wrote a letter to my mother yesterday. This is good and easily understood because the direct object follows the verb.

I wrote my mother a letter yesterday. This is used but I prefer the previous

Unless really mean "Yesterday, I wrote a letter on behalf of my mother"

 

[nokeeffe99]

Do you want to write a letter that you will send to your mother?

In that case you "write a letter to your mother"

Or if your mother cannot write a letter and you want to help her:

You "write a letter for your mother"

 

[mimi2]

If I write for your mother before a letter, is the sentence wrong?
I wrote for my mother a letter.
Thanks.

 

[petereid]

If I write for your mother before a letter, is the sentence wrong?
I wrote for my mother a letter.
Thanks.

I wrote for my mother a letter
This is wrong.

Your post is confusing.
If your mother cannot write, it should be:- "I wrote a letter for my mother"
If you intend to send the letter to your mother, it should be:- "I wrote a letter to my mother"

Is that easier?

 

[Brioche]

I wrote for my mother a letter
This is wrong.

Your post is confusing.
If your mother cannot write, it should be:- "I wrote a letter for my mother"
If you intend to send the letter to your mother, it should be:- "I wrote a letter to my mother"

Is that easier?

I wrote a letter to my mother = I wrote my mother a letter.

I wrote a letter to her = I wrote her a letter.

 

[mimi2]

Thanks all of you. I understand now. They made me confused. It's not my fault.
Thanks.

 

[foxfirebrand]

If you think in terms of formal grammar, it might be helpful to point out that in "I wrote my mother a letter, " letter is the direct object (what you wrote) and mother is the indirect object (to whom you wrote). The direct object is like the accusative case, and the indirect object is the dative.
.

 

[Mr Bones]

If you think in terms of formal grammar, it might be helpful to point out that in "I wrote my mother a letter, " letter is the direct object (what you wrote) and mother is the indirect object (to whom you wrote). The direct object is like the accusative case, and the indirect object is the dative.
.

Exactly, and the inverson of the logical order (subject + verb + direct object + indirect object) is what explains the absence of the preposition to. As we have the indirect object first, we leave out to. This may be obvious for natives, but was very useful to me when I learned it.

Bones