Direct and Indirect Objects

Direct and Indirect Objects

Every sentence has a primary structure, in order to communicate something: subject, verb, and object.

We're going to learn what types of objects exist. For that, we need to remember what an object is:

 An object is a person or thing involved in the action indicated in the sentence.

Direct Object 

This indicates the sentence's object: the person or thing involved in the action and a response to  what or who questions. 

Subject + Action + Direct Object

Lucas kicks the ball

Lucas kicks the ball

• Who is the sentence's subject?: Lucas

• What is he doing?: He is kicking something.

• What does he kick?: He kicks a ball.

• In this order of ideas, ball is the direct object because it is receiving the action. 

  
  

More Examples:

• Sasha paints landscapes.

• Shannon loves traveling to Europe.

• The teacher explained the rules.

• The company is considering my proposal.

• Tina ate apples and bananas.

Indirect Object 

It is the recipient of the direct object. It answers the questions to whom, for whom, or for what. For example:

Subject + Action + Indirect Object + Direct Object

Marcy gave to her mother a painting

Marcy gave to her mother a painting

• Who's the subject?: Marcy

• What action did Marcy do?: She "gave" something. 

• What did she give?: A painting 

Marcy gave to her mother a painting

• At this point, we know that the object is the painting.

• To whom does she give the painting?: To her mother. 

• By answering to whom, we understand that her mother is the indirect object. It is the recipient of the direct object.

More Examples:

• James built Marie a tiny house on the beach.

• The sun gave the garden a pocketful of sunshine.

• Alan finally gave her the engagement ring.

• She gave her dog a bath before they went away on vacation.

• Early the morning, I baked Bryan cupcakes to take to class.