* Direct Object: This is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. It answers the question "What?" or "Whom?" after the verb.
Examples:
* "The dog chased the ball."
* "The ball" is the direct object. It's what the dog chased.
* "She wrote a letter."
* "A letter" is the direct object. It's what she wrote.
* "They gave him a gift."
* "A gift" is the direct object. It's what they gave.
Key Points:
* Transitive Verbs: Transitive sentences always use transitive verbs, which are verbs that need a direct object to complete their meaning.
* Intransitive Verbs: In contrast, intransitive verbs do not need a direct object. For example, "The dog sleeps." There's no direct object; we don't know *what* the dog sleeps *on*.
How to identify a transitive sentence:
1. Find the verb.
2. Ask "What?" or "Whom?" after the verb.
3. If you get an answer, you've found the direct object, and the sentence is transitive.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore intransitive sentences!