Here are some examples:
* I met _John_ at the party. (_John_ is the direct object, receiving the action of "met".)
* The teacher gave _Sarah_ a high grade. (_Sarah_ is the direct object, receiving the action of "gave".)
* The company hired _Ms. Jones_ for the position. (_Ms. Jones_ is the direct object, receiving the action of "hired".)
Key points to remember:
* Direct objects are usually nouns or pronouns.
* Direct objects answer the question "what?" or "whom?" after the verb.
* Direct objects are often preceded by the preposition "to" or "for," but not always.
Here are some examples of proper nouns used as direct objects in different contexts:
* Literature: "The author dedicated his book to Shakespeare."
* History: "The conquistadors conquered Mexico."
* Geography: "We visited Paris on our honeymoon."
By understanding the role of direct objects, you can correctly identify proper nouns functioning as direct objects in sentences.