Direct Objects and Indirect Objects

1. Direct Objects and Indirect Objects To understand this presentation, you should be comfortable with the the parts of speech units on nouns, linking and action verbs, prepositions, and pronouns.

2. Direct objects are always nouns or pronouns that receive the action of the verb. In other words, if the subject of the sentence does something, the direct object is the noun or pronoun that will feel the effect of that action. For example Adam cut the grass in the backyard. Ask yourself “what was cut” and you know that your direct object is “grass.” Some rules to bear in mind when working with direct objects. 1. they are always nouns or pronouns 2. they usually follow the verb 3. they work only with action verbs 4. they are never in a prepositional phrase. 5. not all sentences will have a direct object • A tried and true process for finding direct objects is to follow these steps. 1. Find an action verb in the sentence. If you don’t have an action verb, you can’t have a direct object. 2. cross out the prepositional phrases 3. look for a noun after the verb that receives the action of the verb. If there is only one noun after the action verb, that noun or pronoun is the direct object.

3. Now you try to follow the process to find the direct object with the following sentence. At the mall Lauren purchased her own copy of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. 1. Is there an action verb? 2. cross out the prepositional phrases. 3. are there any nouns left that were not in any prepositional phrase? 4. does that noun or nouns receive the action of the verb? 5. what is the direct object? • Follow the steps above and see if your answers match those on the next slide

4. At the mall Lauren purchased her own copy of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. 1. is there an action verb? Underline it. Yes – purchased 2. cross out the prepositional phrases.At the mall Lauren purchased her own copy of Beethoven’s NinthSymphony. 3. are there any nouns left that were not in any prepositional phrase? Yes – “copy” 4. does that noun or nouns receive the action of the verb? Yes – the copy is “purchased.” 5. what is the direct object? The direct object is “copy” • Follow the process yourself and see if you can find any direct objects. After dinner Clara reviewed in her history book the material for the test.

5. After dinner Clara reviewedin her history book the material for the test. 1. There is an action verb “reviewed” 2. There are prepositional phrases which have been crossed out. 3. the noun left over is “material.” 4. “material” is the thing that Clara 5. “material” is the direct object. • Try another We offered a different piece of the puzzle to each team.

6. We offered a different piece of the puzzleto each team. 1. the sentence does have an action verb -- “offered” 2. the prep. phrases have been crossed out 3. the only noun after the action verb is “piece” 4. “piece” is what was “offered” 5. “piece” is the direct object • Try to find the direct objects in this sentence. During their trip Tony and Matt traveled along each of the trails up the mountain.

7. During their trip Tony and Matt traveledalong each of the trails up the mountain. 1. There is an action verb – “traveled” 2. The prepositional phrases have been cross out – there were four. 3. There are no nouns left over after the action verb 4. There is no direct object. • Try this one – Melissa saw each of the films over her vacation.

8. Melissa saw each of the films over her vacation. 1. Yes, there is an action verb – “saw” 2. The prepositional phrases have been crossed out. 3. There is one noun or pronoun left over – “each” 4. Though it may sound awkward, “each” was seen. (When you have a pronoun like “each” here, it is perfectly all right to include the prep. phrase when asking the question. In other words “each of the films” were seen. Just remember to remove the prepositional phrase, however, when you give your answer. 5. the direct object is “each.” Here is another – Despite the pressure of the game the pitcher seemed cool and calm.

9. Despite the pressure of the game the pitcher seemed cool and calm. 1. There is no action verb in the sentence; “seemed” is always a linking verb. 2. Therefore, there can be no direct object. • Try this one Over the summer Eric brought Nick and Chris to several games of their favorite team.

10. Over the summer Eric brought Nick and Chris to several games of their favorite team. 1. There is an action verb – “brought” 2. The prepositional phrases have been crossed out 3. There are two nouns after the action verb – “Nick” and “Chris” 4. “Nick” and “Chris” are the people who are brought 5. “Nick” and “Chris” are the direct objects. (Note that whenever you have two or more of any of the roles – direct objects, subjects, predicate nominatives etc., they will always be joined by a coordinate conjunction, “and.” See if some of these sentences make looking for a direct object a bit more interesting. Ben tasted the two different chili recipes and then ordered a large serving of each.

11. Ben tasted the two different chili recipes and then ordered a large serving ofeach. 1. There are two action verbs in the sentence – “tasted” and “ordered” 2. the prepositional phrase has been crossed out. 3. There are nouns or pronouns left over after the action verbs – “recipes” and “serving.” 4. The “recipe” is what Ben tasted and the “serving” is what he ordered. 5. Both “recipe” and “serving” are direct objects. Now try this one This pizza’s crust did not taste good to me and so I like that one better.

12. This pizza’s crust did not taste good to me and therefore, I like that one better. 1. There are two verbs, but only one is an action verb – “like” 2. The prepositional phrase has been crossed out. 3. There is only noun or pronoun left after the action verb – “one” 4. The “one” is what this person liked. 5. “one” is the direct object of the sentence. Here’s another one -- We met each of the candidates on separate occasions long before the election.

13. We met each of the candidates on separate occasions long before the election. 1. There is an action verb – “met” 2. The prepositional phrases have been crossed out. 3. There is a noun or pronoun after the action verb. -- “each” 4. “each of the candidates” were the people whom the speakers met. (note here just for clarity’s sake, I included the accompanying prepositional phrase as mentioned on the earlier slide.) 5. “each” is the direct object of the sentence. • But what if there are other nouns after the action verb, and there are no conjunctions? That is when you have indirect objects. For example, look at this sentence, which has an indirect object. You should just try to find the direct object first, and see what noun or pronoun is left over. Sunil purchased both of us souvenirs from his trip back to India.

14. Sunil purchased both of us souvenirs from his trip back to India.1. There is an action verb – “purchased” 2. The prepositional phrases have been crossed out. 3. There are two nouns or pronouns after the action verb – “both” and “souvenirs” 4. The “souvenirs” are what was purchased 5. “souvenirs” is the direct object. (the lack of a coordinate conjunction between “both” and “souvenirs” made it clear that there were not two direct objects.) 6. “both” (of us) is the indirect object. Here are some general rules about indirect objects 1. they are always nouns or pronouns 2. they follow the verb but come before the direct object 3. they work only with action verbs 4. they are never in a prepositional phrase. 5. not all sentences will have a indirect object, but no sentence willhave an indirect object without also having a direct object. Try this sentence – look for both indirect and direct objects Chris gave her mother the news about the incredible success of the team just yesterday.

15. Chris gave her mother the news about the incredible success of the team just yesterday. 1. there is an action verb – “gave” 2. the prepositional phrases have been crossed out 3. there are nouns and pronouns remaining after the action verb 4. What was given? – the “news” 5. “News” is the direct object, then. Since there is still a noun leftover, and since that noun is between the verb and its direct object, and since that noun does what all indirect objects do – wind up with the direct object, “mother” is the indirect object. Try another We provided both Andy and Phil the necessary equipment for the climb.

16. We provided both Andy and Phil the necessary equipment for the climb. 1. there is an action verb – “provided” 2. the prepositional phrases have been crossed out 3. there are nouns and pronouns remaining after the action verb 4. What was provided? – the “equipment” 5. “Equipment” is the direct object, then. Since there is still a noun leftover, and since that noun is between the verb and its direct object, and since those nouns do what all indirect objects do –which is to wind up with the direct object -- “Andy” and “Phil” are the indirect objects. Try this sentence -- We spoke to the two of them for a long time about the difficulties ahead.

17. We spoketo the two of them for a long time about the difficulties ahead. 1. There is an action verb – “spoke” 2. The prepositional phrase have been crossed out 3. There were no other pronouns left after the action verb. 4. Therefore, there are neither direct objects nor indirect objects. Try another sentence To the archaeological committee Marissa presented conclusive evidence in the form of photographs and several artifacts from the ancient tomb.

18. To the archaeological committee Marissa presented conclusive evidence in the form of photographs and several artifacts from the ancient tomb. 1. there is an action verb – “presented” 2. the prepositional phrases have been crossed out 3. there are nouns and pronouns remaining after the action verb 4. What was presented? – the “evidence” and “artifacts” 5. “evidence” and “artifacts” are the direct objects, then. One of the points of the sentence above is that as long as the sentence might appear, it is really just a matter of following the steps to get the sentence down to a more modest size, and from there, the answers should appear. The key is to know your prepositions so that you can eliminate a lot of the clutter that might distract you. Two more to go – try this one The unknown donor offered at the special assembly the best math student an opportunity of a lifetime.

19. The unknown donor offeredat the special assembly the best math student an opportunity of a lifetime. 1. there is an action verb – “offered” 2. the prepositional phrases have been crossed out 3. there are nouns and pronouns remaining after the action verb – “student” and “opportunity” 4. What was provided? – the “opportunity” 5. “opportunity” is the direct object, then. Since there is still a noun or pronoun leftover, and since that noun/pronoun is between the verb and its direct object, and since that noun/pronoun does what all indirect objects do – which is to wind up with the direct object, “student” is the indirect object. And now, for the last sentence -- Randi gave some lucky people a share of her lottery winning.

20. Randi gave some lucky people a share of her lottery winning. 1. there is an action verb – “gave” 2. the prepositional phrases have been crossed out 3. there are nouns and pronouns remaining after the action verb – “people” and “share” 4. What was given? – a “share” 5. “share” is the direct object, then. Since there is still a noun or pronoun leftover, and since that noun/pronoun is between the verb and its direct object, and since that noun/pronoun does what all indirect objects do – which is to wind up with the direct object, “people” is the indirect object. • Finis