Sentences: Direct and Indirect Objects

Contributed by:
Ivan
This lesson focuses on the direct or indirect objects in a sentence, they receive the action of the verb.
1. COMMUNITY COLLEGE

‘ACADEMIC CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
Direct / Indirect Object
Ina sentence, the subject and verb may be followed by an object. An object is a noun or
pronoun that gives meaning to the subject and verb of the sentence. Not all sentences
contain objects, but some may contain one or more. There are two kinds of objects within a
sentence: direct and indirect objects.
I. A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb.
Daniel repairs computers.
direct object
Try this technique when determining the location of the direct object in the above

1) First locate the subject and verb in the sentence. ‘The subject in the above sentence
is “Daniel” and the verb is “repairs.”
2) Now ask yourself the questions What? or Whom? about the verb “repairs.”
3) What does the subject, Daniel, rpair? Daniel repairs computers.
I. An indirect object is the noun or pronoun for whom the action is done. The
indirect object can be located between the action verb and the direct object within a
Daniel gave me a computer.
indirect object
1) First locate the subject (Daniel) and the verb (gav®).
2) Now ask yourself the questions To Whom? To What? For Whom? ot For What? about
the subject and verb.
3) To whom does the subject, Daniel, gine a computer? Daniel gave me a computer.
Susan gave me her notes. (To hom did Susan give ber notes? me)
indirect object
Direct / Indirect Object
Provided by the Academic Center for Excellence 1 Reviewed March 2010
2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ACADEMIC CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
In the following exercise, underline the direct objects once and underline the indirect
objects twice. **Not all sentences will contain direct and indirect objects.
1) We ate steak for dinner.
2) Snow and ice covered the streets.
3) She gives Jacob violin lessons.
4) Everyone loves candy.
5) The teacher gave us an assignment.
6) The children are playing.
7) I brought Diane a balloon.
8) Can you send mea letter?
9) The baby needs a nap.
10) The students asked the teacher many questions.
1) Direct object. steak
2) Dinet object: the streets
3) Direct object: violin lessons Indirect object: Jacob
4) Direct objec: candy
5) Direct object: an assignment Indirect object us
©) No direct or indirect object
7) Direct object: a balloon Indirect object: Diane
8) Direct object: a letter Indirect object me
9) Direct objed: a nap
10) Direct object: many questions Indirect object: the teacher
Provided by the Academic Center for Excellence 2
Direct / Indirect Object