What is the difference between a direct object and an indirect object?

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What is an Object?

An object is a word in a sentence placed after a transitive verb that gives the verb additional meaning.[1] Without the object, the thought is incomplete. Objects can be nouns, pronouns, or a group of words acting as a noun or pronoun.[2] Objects are also classified as direct or indirect. A direct object receives the action of the verb and answers whom or what? An indirect object is the receiver of the direct object and answers for whom, for what, to whom, or to what?

The Rules

Concerning Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

  • Some verbs may be transitive or intransitive based on their context in a sentence.
  • Noun phrases may follow both transitive and intransitive verbs.

Concerning Objects

  • Generally, the subject is completing an action, the direct object is being acted on, and the verb is in the active voice.
  • Not all sentences will have direct or indirect objects.
  • A sentence must have a direct object in order to have an indirect object.
  • Objects should not be confused with subject complements.

Usage

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs must be accompanied by an object in order to complete a thought. Some common transitive verbs include:

  • prefer
  • bring
  • enjoy

Direct Object

An easy way to determine if there is a direct object is to set apart the verb from the rest of the sentence and ask the question whom or what?[3]

Example 1
The girl kicked the soccer ball across the field.
Example 2
I packed what I needed into my suitcase.

To identify the direct object, one must ask who or what did the girl kick? In this example, the direct object is "the soccer ball," because it identifies what the girl kicked. The second example answers the same question. Here, the group of words "what I needed" is the acting as a noun. By answering what is being packed, the group of words is also a direct object.

Indirect Object

Some sentences also contain indirect objects. An indirect object is the receiver of the direct object. They are similar to direct objects, because they are nouns or pronouns. The difference between the two is the question that the object answers. An indirect object answers the question for whom, for what, to whom, or to what?

Example
Johnny threw his dog the tennis ball.

This example answers to whom Johnny threw the tennis ball. If a sentence has an indirect object, it must also have a direct object. This sentence's direct object is "the tennis ball," because it answers what Johnny threw.

Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive verb does not have a direct or indirect object.[4] Instead, the verb may be followed by a prepositional phrase, noun phrase, or adverb. Some common intransitive verbs include:

  • jump
  • drive
  • talk
Example 1
The baby cried all afternoon.

In this example, one can identify "cried" as an intransitive verb, because it does not need an object to complete the thought. If the sentence simply read, "The baby cried," readers could easily understand what is happening.


External Links

References

  1. ↑ MacFadyen, Heather. "Transitive and Intransitive Verbs." uOttawa.ca. University of Ottawa. Web. 10 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Maimon, Peritz, and Yancey. A Writer's Resource. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
  3. ↑ "The Direct Object." www.ucl.ac.uk. The Internet Grammar of English. Web. 15 July 2013.
  4. ↑ MacFadyen, Heather. "Transitive and Intransitive Verbs." uOttawa.ca. University of Ottawa. Web. 10 July 2013.

Composition FAQ

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