Understanding Indirect Objects
An indirect object receives the direct object. It answers the question "to whom?" or "for whom?" the action of the verb is performed.
Diagraming the Indirect Object
1. Main Line: The main line of the diagram includes the subject, verb, and direct object (if there is one).
2. Diagonal Line: Draw a diagonal line down from the verb, sloping slightly to the right. This line represents the indirect object.
3. Placement: The indirect object is written below the diagonal line.
Example:
Sentence: *He gave her a gift.*
Diagram:
```
He | gave |
\-------|---------/
|
her
\
a gift
```
Explanation:
* He is the subject.
* gave is the verb.
* a gift is the direct object (what was given).
* her is the indirect object (to whom the gift was given).
Key Points:
* Indirect Objects are Optional: Sentences don't always have indirect objects.
* Position: Indirect objects usually come before the direct object.
* Prepositional Phrases: Sometimes, an indirect object is expressed using a prepositional phrase (e.g., "He gave a gift *to her*"). In these cases, diagram the prepositional phrase as a modifier below the verb.
Let me know if you'd like to see more examples or have a specific sentence you want to diagram!