Grammar fix
hand back
return something to the person who gave it to you
to give something back to the person who gave it to you, especially after you have finished using it or when you no longer need it.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
After checking our homework, the teacher handed back our notebooks.
In my school, teachers usually hand back our test papers the following week so we can see our mistakes.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The teacher handed back us the tests.
Say: The teacher handed the tests back to us. / The teacher handed us back the tests.
With two objects, say 'hand the tests back to us'. Don't put 'us' straight after 'handed back'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Hand back' is the natural verb for returning something passed to you. 'Return the document to me' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
hand back
- the keys
- the papers
- your badge
- the form