Action Verbs, Direct Objects, Indirect Objects, Predicate Nouns, Predicate Adjectives

An ACTION VERB is a verb which shows action. A few action verbs, like understand, are mental processes and cant be demonstrated. An action verb sometimes needs a word to finish its meaning. This word is called a COMPLEMENT. The ACTION VERB COMPLEMENTS are: Direct Object, Indirect Object, and Object Complement (Predicate Noun or Predicate Adjective) The DIRECT OBJECT answers the questions what? or whom? after the action verb. A Direct Object must be a noun or a pronoun. (S AV DO)

Example: Jeff kicked the ball very hard.

The INDIRECT OBJECT answers the questions to what? for what? or to whom? for whom? after the action verb. An Indirect Object must be a noun or a pronoun. It MUST also come between the verb and the direct object. (S AV IO DO) There cant be an IO without a DO in the sentence!!!

Example: Sally gave her mother a check for rent.

Predicate Nouns and Predicate Adjectives MUST follow LINKING VERBS (am is are was were be being beenseem or appear). Predicate Nouns RENAME the subject but come after a linking verb. Example: Theodore is president of the student body. (Predicate Noun)

Predicate Adjectives DESCRIBE the subject but come after a linking verb. Example: The girl in the play is beautiful and talented. (Predicate Adjective) Some of my friends seem crazy sometimes. (OC as an Predicate Adjective)

REMEMBER: No part of any complement may be inside a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE!!

*Suzie is going to the store for her mom. (NO complement) *Thomas gave pizza to the class yesterday. (pizza=DO, to the class is a prepositional phrase so it cant be the IO)

Follow these directions specifically!

1. Put all prepositional phrases in (parentheses). 2. Underline the verb TWICE (dont forget verb phrase helper verbs). 3. Underline all direct objects ONCE and write DO above the word. 4. CIRCLE all indirect objects. (REMEMBER it MUST come between the verb & DO) 5. Underline all predicate nouns and label with a PN above the word. 6. Underline all predicate adjectives and label with a PA above the word. REMEMBER: NOTHING will be found in a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE! ***The sentences may or may not have a prepositional phrase, direct object, indirect object, predicate noun or predicate adjective.

1. Alex baked the class pumpkin bread. 2. I will make them stars by the end of the year. 3. My dog brought Dad his slippers. 4. I find school elections a good experience. 5. In the middle of the pile of papers was Mr. Jones golden fountain pen. 6. Lisa and Jim made Mrs. OBrien a pie from the strawberries in the garden. 7. Some critical people consider fine art a necessity of life. 8. Janet ran the 100-meter dash very fast for a beginner. 9. We appointed Carol secretary of the French Club. 10. Arent you going to school during the teachers strike? 11. John wrote the constitution and gave a copy of it to each member of the club. 12. The people consider anything on their property theirs. 13. You offered me a nearly perfect plan. 14. His brother has not been thinking about the upcoming algebra test. 15. I met Jenny in the lobby near the Coke machine after school. 16. We considered winning an occasion for celebration. 17. Go to the pantry and get a can of tomato soup. 18. Mr. Childs declared the high school prom a huge success. 19. He considers English and Spanish II the most enjoyable of all his classes. 20. Kevin ate the apple and threw the core into the wastebasket. 21. Mr. Smith offered me the best seat in the auditorium for the junior class play. 22. John may eventually ask his boss for a raise. 23. The judges called the Sams entry extraordinary. 24. Will someone fix the door on the porch? 25. Your southern accent is very interesting.