Direct/Indirect

Object Notes
Direct and Indirect Objects
A direct object (DO) is a noun or pronoun that receives
the action of an action verb. A direct object answers
the question whom or what following the verb.

Rico brought balloons. (Rico brought--what?--balloons.

Balloons is the direct object.)

Mrs. Goldman met Rick and me at the door. (Mrs.

Goldman met--whom?--Rick and me. Rick and me are
the direct objects.)

2
Direct & Indirect Objects
Not all verbs take objects. Linking verbs do not take
objects. Some, but not all, action verbs do take abjects.
Those action verbs that take object are called
transitive verbs.

3
Direct & Indirect Objects
An indirect object (IO) is a noun or pronoun that
follows the action verb and answers the question to
whom, for whom, to what or for what, following the
action verb.

Direct objects can stand alone, but indirect objects

exist only when there is a direct object. An indirect
object always comes before the direct object in a
sentence.
I gave Josh my present. (To whom did I give the
present? I gave it to josh. Josh is the indirect
object; present is the direct object.)
4
Direct & Indirect Objects
Like subjects, direct and indirect objects are never part
of a prepositional phrase. Even though these next two
sentences mean the same thing, only the first one has
an indirect object.

Please send Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Jim a thank-you

note.
Please send a thank-you note to Aunt Marilyn and
Uncle Jim. (The phrase to Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Jim is
a prepositional phrase.)

5
Identifying Direct & Indirect Objects
Be able to identify the direct and indirect objects in the
following sentences.

1. John Updike has written many novels, short

stories, poems and essays.
2. Janet read me one of his stories.
3. Mrs. Tatarian showed us Updike’s list of greatest
authors.
4. We gave his choices our full attention.
5. His choices included Homer, Proust, and
Shakespeare.