Complements Direct and indirect objects

Sometimes a sentence is not complete with just a subject and a verb. Example – They threw. If someone said this to me I’d say “Threw what?” They threw the ball. Now that’s complete.

Direct Objects A direct object is a complement that tells who or what receives the action of a verb or shows the result of the action. A D.O. may be a noun, pronoun or word group that functions as a noun. To find a D.O. ask Whom? Or What? After the action verb.

Example Charlie gave a magazine to Jarrod. Gave what? Magazine Johnny raided the fridge at midnight. Raided what? fridge

Direct object may be compound Grant threw the football and baseball at his brother’s head.

Indirect object This is a complement that often appears in a sentence contains direct objects. It tells whom or what or for whom or for what the action of the verb is done. May be a noun, pronoun or word group functioning as a noun. Appears between the verb and the direct object.

Example The teacher gave us advice about college.

DO NOT MISTAKE AN OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION WITH AN INDIRECT OBJECT. Example – He gave it to me.

Indirect objects may be compound Mrs. V threw Jessi, Max, and Kayla a ball.

S.A.I.D. S – subject A – action verb I – indirect object D – direct object