Direct and Indirect Objects Explained:
* Direct Object: The thing or person directly affected by the action of the verb. It answers the question "What?" or "Whom?"
* Indirect Object: The person or thing who receives the direct object. It answers the question "To whom?" or "For whom?"
Here are some examples:
| Sentence | Direct Object | Indirect Object |
|---|---|---|
| The teacher gave the students a test. | test (What did the teacher give?) | students (To whom did the teacher give the test?) |
| My mom baked me a delicious cake. | cake (What did my mom bake?) | me (For whom did my mom bake the cake?) |
| He sent his grandmother a birthday card. | card (What did he send?) | grandmother (To whom did he send the card?) |
| She bought her dog a new toy. | toy (What did she buy?) | dog (For whom did she buy the toy?) |
| The waiter brought us our food. | food (What did the waiter bring?) | us (To whom did the waiter bring the food?) |
Important Notes:
* Only transitive verbs have direct objects. A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning.
* Indirect objects are usually found before the direct object. However, they can be placed after the direct object if using the preposition "to" or "for". For example, "She sent a birthday card to her grandmother."
Let's test your understanding!
Can you identify the direct and indirect objects in these sentences?
1. The librarian read the children a story.
2. I wrote my friend a letter.
3. They offered the guests a drink.