Name _________________
LA
Date _________
Period ________
Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
Direct Objects are complements that are used after action verbs. A direct
object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb. A
direct object can be identified by asking Whom? Or What? after an action
verb.
Example:
The message reached the lawyer.
Subject
message
Verb
reached
Direct Object
lawyer
Question answered reached whom = lawyer
Directions: Identify the parts of speech in the sentences below.
1.
His landlord is raising the rent.
Subject
_____________________
Verb
_____________________
Question answered _____________________
Direct Object
_____________________
She quickly opened the letter.
Subject
_____________________
Verb
_____________________
Question answered _____________________
Direct Object
2.
_____________________
My aunt opened the door cautiously.
Subject
_____________________
Verb
_____________________
Question answered _____________________
Direct Object
_____________________
Indirect Objects - An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that comes
after an action verb and before a direct object. It names the person or
thing that something is given to or done for. A sentence cannot have an
indirect object unless it first has a direct object.
Example:
I told them the story.
Subject
I
Verb
told
Direct Object ?
Told what?
Direct Object
story
Indirect Object
them
Indirect object ?
Told to whom? = them
Directions: Identify the parts of speech in the sentences below.
1.
Dave gave each slide a new title.
Subject
_____________________
Verb
_____________________
Direct Object ?
____________________
Direct Object
_____________________
Indirect Object ?
_____________________
Indirect Object
_____________________
2. We sent her a bouquet of flowers.
Subject
_____________________
Verb
_____________________
Direct Object ?
_____________________
Direct Object
_____________________
Indirect Object ?
_____________________
Indirect Object
_____________________
Bonus: What part of speech is “of” in sentence #2? What part of speech is
flowers? of = __________________
flowers = ________________
Name _________________
LA
Date _________
Period ________
Indirect Object or Object of a Preposition?
Do not confuse an indirect object with the object of a preposition. An
indirect object never follows the preposition to or for in a sentence.
Compare the following sentences:
1.
Father bought him a present.
Subject
Father
Verb
bought
Direct Object question bought what? = present
Direct Object
present
Indirect Object question bought for whom? = him
Indirect Object
him
2. Father bought a present for him.
Subject
Father
Verb
bought
Direct Object question bought what? = present
Direct Object
present
Indirect Object
none
Preposition
for
In the first example, him is an indirect object. It comes after the verb
and before the direct object. In the second, him is the object of the
preposition for and follows the direct object.
Directions: Read each sentence. Ask the questions; identify the parts of
speech. Remember, if there’s a preposition, there is no indirect object.
1.
The strawberries gave him a rash.
Subject
__________________
Verb
__________________
Direct Object question __________________
Direct Object
__________________
Indirect Object question __________________
Indirect Object
__________________
Preposition
__________________
2.
Sheepishly, she told her father the story.
Subject
__________________
Verb
__________________
Direct Object question __________________
Direct Object
__________________
Indirect Object question __________________
Indirect Object
__________________
Preposition
__________________
3.
Raphael gave a bone to the collie.
Subject
__________________
Verb
__________________
Direct Object question __________________
Direct Object
__________________
Indirect Object question __________________
Indirect Object
__________________
Preposition
__________________
4.
Did you tell him the price?
Subject
__________________
Verb
__________________
Direct Object question __________________
Direct Object
__________________
Indirect Object question __________________
Indirect Object
__________________
Preposition
__________________
5.
My mother brought her car to the repair shop.
Subject
__________________
Verb
__________________
Direct Object question __________________
Direct Object
__________________
Indirect Object question __________________
Indirect Object
__________________
Preposition
__________________
6.
Surprisingly enough, she gave her aunt the bracelet.
Subject
__________________
Verb
__________________
Direct Object question __________________
Direct Object
__________________
Indirect Object
__________________
Indirect Object question __________________
Preposition
__________________
7.
Please buy a new radio for them.
Subject
__________________
Verb
__________________
Direct Object question __________________
Direct Object
__________________
Indirect Object
__________________
Indirect Object question __________________
Preposition
__________________