Direct and Indirect Objects

A direct object is a noun or pronoun that does what in a sentence?

• Describes the subject

• Receives the action of an action verb

• Modifies a verb or adjective

• Follows a linking verb

Answer explanation

A direct object answers the question 'what?' or 'whom?' after an action verb. A word that describes the subject after a linking verb is a subject complement.

In the sentence 'My brother built a cool gaming PC,' what is the direct object?

• brother

• built

• cool

• a cool gaming PC

Answer explanation

The direct object answers 'built what?'. The answer is 'a cool gaming PC,' which receives the action of the verb 'built'.

True or False: An indirect object often tells who or what receives the direct object.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is the definition of an indirect object. It answers the question 'to whom?' or 'for whom?' the action was done.

Select the indirect object in this sentence: The coach gave the team a pep talk before the game.

• coach

• team

• a pep talk

• game

Answer explanation

The indirect object answers 'gave to whom?'. The coach gave the pep talk to the 'team'.

Which sentence contains a direct object, not a subject complement?

• The pizza smells delicious.

• My friend is the team captain.

• She kicked the soccer ball.

• I feel tired today.

Answer explanation

'Kicked' is an action verb that has a direct object, 'the soccer ball.' The verbs in the other sentences ('smells,' 'is,' 'feel') are linking verbs, which are followed by subject complements.

True or False: In the sentence 'I passed the note to Maria,' the word 'Maria' is an indirect object.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'Maria' is the object of the preposition 'to.' For it to be an indirect object, the sentence would have to be 'I passed Maria the note.'

Which sentence correctly follows the Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object (S-V-IO-DO) pattern?

• My aunt sent a gift to me.

• My aunt sent me a gift.

• A gift was sent to me by my aunt.

• My aunt sent a gift yesterday.

Answer explanation

This sentence follows the S-V-IO-DO pattern: Subject (My aunt), Verb (sent), Indirect Object (me), Direct Object (a gift). The other options use a prepositional phrase or passive voice.

Complete the sentence with a direct object: After school, I finally finished _____.

• quickly

• my history project

• was tired

• at the library

Answer explanation

The phrase 'my history project' is a noun phrase that answers the question 'finished what?'. The other options are an adverb, a verb phrase, and a prepositional phrase.

What is the compound direct object in this sentence? For the camping trip, we packed a tent, sleeping bags, and a cooler.

• we

• packed

• a tent, sleeping bags, and a cooler

• For the camping trip

Answer explanation

The compound direct object consists of all three items that answer the question 'packed what?'. A compound object is two or more objects joined by a conjunction.

Complete the sentence: My dad is teaching _____ how to change a tire.

• I

• me

• myself

• my

Answer explanation

The indirect object in a sentence must be an objective case pronoun. 'Me' is the objective case, while 'I' is the subjective case.