Direct Objects & Indirect Objects

Direct Objects A direct object (DO) is a noun (or pronoun) that receives the action of an action verb.

The DO answers the question “What?” or “Whom?” after the action verb. Direct Objects The DO answers the question “What?” or “Whom?” after the action verb.

Direct Objects To find the direct object, first identify the action verb of the sentence.

In this sentence, what is the action verb? The boy hit the ball. In this sentence, what is the action verb?

In this sentence, what is the action verb? Action verb: hit The boy hit the ball. In this sentence, what is the action verb? Action verb: hit

Now ask yourself the question, “What or whom did the boy hit?” The boy hit the ball. Now ask yourself the question, “What or whom did the boy hit?”

The boy hit the ball. The boy hit the ball, so ball is the direct object. It receives the action of the verb.

Remember the ORDER… Subject-Action Verb-Direct Object abbreviated as S-AV-DO

In the following sentences, first identify the action verb In the following sentences, first identify the action verb. Then identify the direct object.

Susan answered the phone.

Susan answered the phone. Action verb: answered

Susan answered the phone. Action verb: answered Direct object: phone

What did Susan answer? The phone

The dog ate the bone.

The dog ate the bone. Action verb: ate

The dog ate the bone. Action verb: ate Direct object: bone

What did the dog eat? The bone

Now… we can add to our formula! S-AV-IO-DO

What is an IO?

INDIRECT OBJECTS An indirect object (IO) is a noun (or pronoun) that comes after the action verb but before the direct object and answers “to/for whom?” OR “to/for what?” about the direct object.

Ex. Mom gave us some money for the game. First find the subject: MOM Next find the action verb: GAVE Next find the DO by repeating the verb and asking who or what? So…Mom gave what?

Ex. Mom gave us some money for the game. Mom gave money… Now to find the IO, ask, “Mom gave money to whom or to what?

Ex. Mom gave us some money for the game. Mom gave the money to US, so US is the IO! Be sure to double check your work by checking the order… S-AV-IO-DO Mom-gave-us-money…it’s all good!

An indirect object (IO) will NEVER be in a prepositional phrase!

Ex. Mom gave the money to my sister. MOM is the subject and GAVE is the action verb but “sister” is NOT a DIRECT OBJECT (DO) because it’s in the prepositional phrase “to my sister.”