Example 1:
* Sentence: The teacher gave the students a pop quiz.
* Subject: Teacher
* Verb: Gave
* Indirect Object: Students (receives the action indirectly)
* Direct Object: Pop quiz (receives the action directly)
Explanation: The teacher is performing the action of giving. The students are the recipients of the quiz, but not directly. The pop quiz is the thing being given.
Example 2:
* Sentence: My grandmother sent me a birthday card.
* Subject: Grandmother
* Verb: Sent
* Indirect Object: Me (receives the action indirectly)
* Direct Object: Birthday card (receives the action directly)
Explanation: The grandmother is the one sending. I am the recipient of the card, but not directly. The birthday card is the thing being sent.
Example 3:
* Sentence: The chef prepared the guests a delicious meal.
* Subject: Chef
* Verb: Prepared
* Indirect Object: Guests (receives the action indirectly)
* Direct Object: Delicious meal (receives the action directly)
Explanation: The chef is the one preparing. The guests are the recipients of the meal, but not directly. The delicious meal is the thing being prepared.
Example 4:
* Sentence: The author dedicated the book to her mother.
* Subject: Author
* Verb: Dedicated
* Indirect Object: Mother (receives the action indirectly)
* Direct Object: Book (receives the action directly)
Explanation: The author is the one dedicating. The mother is the recipient of the dedication, but not directly. The book is the thing being dedicated.
Key points to remember:
* Indirect objects usually answer the question "to whom?" or "for whom?"
* Direct objects usually answer the question "what?" or "whom?"
* Not all sentences have indirect objects. If a sentence has a verb that takes an object, but doesn't have an indirect object, it will only have a direct object. For example, "The artist painted a portrait." (The artist painted *what?* A portrait.)