Direct and indirect object
The sentence formula 8 and 9 involves direct object and indirect object. It explains how to frame a sentence with a direct object and an indirect object. So let’s first see what is direct and indirect object.
Direct Object
The subject acts upon a thing and is called the DIRECT OBJECT. It receives the action of the verb. It is the noun or pronoun receiving the action.
It answers the question “what” or “whom“. If nothing answers what or whom, there is no direct object. Direct objects can be noun, pronoun, phrases or clauses. Let’s see the formula.
Subject + verb + direct object(who or what)
First find the subject and verb(action word) in the sentence.
Then as the question ‘whom‘ or ‘what‘ the verb is acting upon. Direct objects are mostly nouns, but it can also be a pronoun, phrase or clause.
The words in orange are subjects, blue are verbs and in pink are direct objects.
1. I found the book.
2. Sam took the pen.
3. Who made the pot?
4. You eat by yourself.
5. We designed the jewels.
6. They took the bus.
7. Who spilled the milk?
8. You should pass the ball.
9. The children eat ice cream.
10. The truck hit the wall.
11. She opened the packet.
12. I ate the burger.
13. She stole the watch.
14. I bought a clock and sold a watch.
(This sentence has two direct objects. The direct object for the verb bought is clock and the direct object for the verb sold is watch. ‘I’ is the subject.).
15. I caught the ball.
16. Indians eat rice.
17. I love coffee.
18. She loves climbing the mountains.
19. Sarah paints a scenery.
20. My sister gifted a pen.
21. I wrote the script.
22. I liked the profile.
23. I dropped the camera.
24. She spilled the milk.
25. I filled the bucket.
Indirect Object
Indirect objects receive the action of the direct object. They are used for intransitive verbs and at times preceded by prepositions. An indirect object answers the questions of “for whom”, “to whom”, or “for what”.
Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object.
1. I gave Sam the box.
Subject – I
Verb – gave
Direct object – the box
Indirect object – Sam
The question that should be asked for this sentence is, To whom did I give the box?
Answer: to Sam. So, Sam is the indirect object.
More examples of indirect objects.
Example | Direct Object | Indirect Object | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
I gave her his pen. | pen | her | gave |
Sam ate his burger. | burger | his | ate |
Sara gave him an invitation. | invitation | him | gave |
You must tell the details to the professor. | the details | the professor | tell |
Take his file. (No subject) | file | his | Take |
I sent Sam a receipt. | receipt | Sam | sent |
I have bought my husband a car. | a car | husband | bought |
I paid Ralph the money. | money | Ralph | paid |
I gave Paul the pillow. | pillow | Paul | gave |
I filled him his bucket. | bucket | him | filled |
The lecturer told us a story. | story | lecturer | told |
