Direct Objects

You already know that nouns are words that name persons,
places, things, and ideas.
Nouns can function as direct objects. A direct object receives
the action of the verb. In other words, it is the thing being acted
upon.
Only action verbs can have direct objects. A direct object will
never follow a linking verb.
To find a direct object:
1) Find the verb. Is it an action verb?
2) If it is an action verb, put the verb in the blank and ask
"______ who or what?"
Examples of Direct Objects:
Examples of direct objects with explanation:
Example: Joe threw the ball.
Joe is the subject-he is the one doing the throwing.v
What did Joe throw? The ball is the direct object because it
receives the action-it is the thing that Joe threw.
Example: Quinn ate cereal for breakfast.
Quinn is the subject-he is the one eating.v
What did Quinn eat? The cereal is the direct object because it
receives the action-it is the thing that Quinn ate.
Below are some additional examples of sentences with direct
objects.
Lauren played the piano. (Played who or what?) piano
Our class read Charlotte's Web. (Read who or what?) Charlotte's
Web
Sandra likes chocolate cake. (Likes who or what?) chocolate cake

Pam saw Ann through the window. (Saw who or what?) Ann
Mom kissed baby Alice on the nose. (Kissed who or what?) baby
Alice
Chad watched a game on television. (Watched who or what?) a
game
Lois rode her bike to school. (Rode who or what?) her bike
Andrea patted the dog on its head. (Patted who or what?) the dog

Nouns: Indirect Object

The indirect object is the noun or pronoun that receives the direct
object.
Typically, an indirect object precedes the direct object and can be
found by asking who or what received the direct object.
[In the following examples, the indirect object is bold and the direct
object is underlined.]
If you would like, we can give Martha the tickets to tonights game.
To determine the indirect object, ask who or what received the
direct object.
Emil sent his brother a postcard from the hotel.

 Emil did not send his brother. He sent a postcard to his brother.
The noun receiving the direct object is the indirect object.
Did the students give their teacher the assignment?
Look for the object that receives the action of the verb and then
who or what receives that object.
After class, Randall will give the students their papers.
Once you identify the verb, ask whether the verb was done to
someone or something. For example: Will Randall give someone
or something? Yes, he will give papers. To whom will he give
them? Students. Students is the indirect object.
Can you write the clerk a check for the groceries?
Identify the subject, find the verb the subject is engaged in,
determine if it is an action verb, ask who or what is receiving the
action and then ask who or what is receiving that object.