this might be a most frequently asked question, but I am quite confused about the difference between transitive and distransitive usage of verbs such as 'give' 'write' and 'buy'

(1) I wrote a letter to John. (2) i wrote John a letter.

In (1), the letter has already arrived and John has the letter. In (2), it is not clear whether John has got the letter, right?

Then, how about 'give'?

(3) I gave John five dollars. (4) I gave five dollars to John.

I understand that in (3), it is apparant that John has got five dollars. However, if the difference in (1) and (2) is applicable here, we would expect that (4) means either

(i) John has got five dollars.
or (ii) John has not got five dollars.

The question is: Is it possible to interepret (4) as (ii)?

I find it confusing because I think as soon as someone 'give' something to someone the receiver gets the thing.

I really appreciate any answer, suggestion, or intuition.

Thanks in advance.

This might be a most frequently asked question, but I am quite confused about the difference between the transitive and the ditransitive usage of verbs such as give, write, and buy which can take an indirect object or a prepositional phrase.

1. I wrote a letter to John. (with prepositional phrase)
2. i wrote John a letter. (with indirect object)

In (1), the letter has already arrived and John now has the letter in his keeping.

In (2), it is not clear whether John has received the letter and now possesses it, right?

Then, how about give?

3. I gave John five dollars. (with indirect object)
4. I gave five dollars to John. (with prepositional phrase)

I understand that in (3), it is apparent that John has got five dollars (meaning he possesses it, not that he has received it).

However, if the difference in (1) and (2) is applicable here, we would expect that (4) means either

• (i) John has got five dollars.

or

• (ii) John has not got five dollars.

The question is: Is it possible to interpret (4) as (ii)?

I find it confusing because I think as soon as someone give something to someone the receiver gets the thing. I really appreciate any answer, suggestion, or intuition.