Direct object and Indirect objects

Direct Object

A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb or shows theresult of the action. It answers the question "What?" or "Whom?" after an action verb. An action verb with a direct object is called a transitive verb. The direct objects on this page are italicized.

Notice each question being answered: "Receives what?" "The action"; "Showswhat?" "The question"; etc.

Recognize a direct object when you see one.

Direct objects are nouns, pronouns, phrases, and clauses that follow transitive verbs [a type of action verb]. If you can identify the subject and verb in a sentence,  then finding the direct object--if one exists--is easy. Just remember this simple formula:

Subject + verb + what? [sometimes who?] = the direct object

Here are examples of the formula in action:

Zippy and Maurice played soccer in the backyard with grapefruit pulled from a tree.

Zippy, Maurice = subjects | played = verb | Zippy and Maurice played what?soccer = direct object

Zippy accidentally kicked Maurice in the shin.

Zippy = subject | kicked = verb | Zippy kicked who? Maurice = direct object

Sometimes direct objects are single words like soccer and Maurice; other times they are phrases or clauses. The formula nevertheless works the same.

Sylina hates biting her fingernails.

Sylina = subject | hates = verb | Sylina hates what? Biting her fingernails [gerund phrase] = direct object

Even worse, Sylina hates when Mom lectures her about hand care.

Sylina = subject | hates = verb | Sylina hates what? When Mom lectures her about hand care [subordinate clause] = direct object

Direct objects can also follow verbals--infinitives, gerunds, and participles. Use this abbreviated version of the formula:

Verbal + what? (sometimes who?) = direct object

Here are some examples:

To see magnified blood cells, Gus squinted into the microscope on the lab table.

To see = infinitive | To see what? Blood cells = direct object

Gus bought contact lenses because he wanted to see the beautiful Miranda, his lab partner, more clearly.

To see = infinitive | To see who? The beautiful Miranda = direct object

Dragging her seventy-five pound German shepherd through the door is Roseanne's least favorite part of going to the vet.

Dragging = gerund | Dragging what? Her seventy-five pound German shepherd = direct object

Heaping his plate with fried chicken, Clyde winked at Delores, the cook.

Heaping = participle | Heaping what? His plate = direct object

Don't confuse direct objects and subject complements.

Only action verbs can have direct objects. If the verb is linking, then the word that answers the what? or who? question is a subject complement.

The space alien from the planet Zortek accidentally locked his keys in his space ship.

Alien = subject | locked = action verb | The space alien locked what? His keys = direct object.

The space alien was happy to find a spare key taped under the wing.

Alien = subject | was = linking verb | The space alien was what? Happy = subject complement.

Don't use subject pronouns as direct objects.

The chart below shows the differences between subject and object pronouns. Because direct objects are objects, always use the objective form of the pronoun.

Subject Pronouns	Object Pronouns
I we you he, she, it they who	me us you him, her, it them whom

The Direct Object

In the sentence David plays the piano, the NP the piano is the constituent which undergoes the "action" of being played (by David, the Subject). We refer to this constituent as the DIRECT OBJECT.

Here are some more examples of Direct Objects:

We bought a new computer
I used to ride a motorbike
The police interviewed all the witnesses

We can usually identify the Direct Object by asking who or what was affected by the Subject. For example:

We bought a new computer

Q. What did we buy?
A. A new computer ( = the Direct Object)

The Direct Object generally comes after the verb, just as the Subject generally comes before it. So in a declarative sentence, the usual pattern is:

Subject -- Verb -- Direct Object

The following table shows more examples of this pattern:

Subject	Verb	Direct Object
The tourists	visited	the old cathedral
She	sent	a postcard
The detectives	examined	the scene of the crime

Indirect objects are rare. You can read for pages before you encounter one. For an indirect object to appear, a sentence must first have a direct object.

Direct objects follow transitive verbs [a type of action verb]. If you can identify the subject andverb in a sentence, then finding the direct object—if one exists—is easy. Just remember this simple formula:

subject + verb + what? or who? = direct object

Here are examples of the formula in action:

Jim built a sandcastle on the beach.

Jim = subject; built = verb. Jim built what? Sandcastle = direct object.

Sammy and Maria brought Billie Lou to the party.

Sammy, Maria = subject; brought = verb. Sammy and Maria brought who? Billie Lou= direct object.

To explain the broken lamp, we told a lie.

We = subject; told = verb. We told what? Lie = direct object.

When someone [or something] gets the direct object, that word is the indirect object. Look at these new versions of the sentences above:

Jim built his granddaughter a sandcastle on the beach.

Jim = subject; built = verb. Jim built what? Sandcastle = direct object. Who got the sandcastle? Granddaughter = indirect object.

So that Darren would have company at the party, Sammy and Maria broughthim a blind date.

Sammy, Maria = subjects; brought = verb. Sammy and Maria brought who? Blind date = direct object. Who got the blind date? Him = indirect object.

To explain the broken lamp, we told Mom a lie.

We = subject; told = verb. We told what? Lie = direct object. Who got the lie? Mom = indirect object.

Sometimes, the indirect object will occur in a prepositional phrase beginning with to or for. Read these two sentences:

Tomas paid the mechanic 200 dollars to fix the squeaky brakes.

Tomas paid 200 dollars to the mechanic to fix the squeaky brakes.

In both versions, the mechanic [the indirect object] gets the 200 dollars [the direct object].

When the indirect object is a pronoun rather than a noun, putting it in a prepositional phrase becomes a necessary modification. The preposition smoothes out the sentence so that it sounds natural. Check out these examples:

Leslie didn't have any money for a sandwich, so Smitty purchased her it.

Blech! That version sounds awful!

Leslie didn't have any money for a sandwich, so Smitty purchased it for her.

Locating the indirect object her in a prepositional phrase lets the sentence sound natural!

After Michael took generous spoonfuls of stuffing, he passed us it.

Ewww! This version sounds awful too!

After Michael took generous spoonfuls of stuffing, he passed it to us.

But with the indirect object us in a prepositional phrase, we have an improvement! 

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Underline the direct object in each sentence.

1.    Jane baked a pizza for her children.

2.    Make a list of your favourite books.                           

3.    The home team won the match.

4.    Who broke the vase?

5.    The children play chess in the afternoons.

6.    She always tells the truth.

7.    I take music lessons twice a week.

8.    Who wrote this book?

9.    Sally cleaned her room.

10.  He opened the gate slowly.

11.  The pigeons built a nest.

12.  The lemon tree bore no fruit.

13.  The children built an enormous sand-castle.

14.  Lou drives an expensive car.

15.  Open the book to page 27.

Underline the direct object and circle the indirect object in these sentences.

1.    Jane made us coffee.

            2.    I teach English to foreign students.

            3.    The police are questioning the witness about the case.

            4.    This book gives travelers plenty information.

            5.    Could you lend me your pen, please?

            6.    Share your experience with us.

            7.    The painter showed them his paintings.

            8.    Did you give the massage to Marge?

   

            9.    The singers performed popular songs for the audience.

          10.  Show me the book you bought yesterday.

          11.  Grandmother left Jed all her books.

          12.  The students elected Greg the school captain.

           13.  The crowd cheered the players after the game.

           14.  My cousin sent me some rare stamps.