Learn on PengiElements of Language, 2nd CourseChapter 4: Complements: Direct and Indirect Objects, Subject Complements

Lesson 2: Objects of Verbs: Direct Objects, Indirect Objects

In this Grade 7 lesson from Elements of Language, 2nd Course, students learn to identify direct objects and indirect objects of verbs, understanding how direct objects answer the questions "Whom?" or "What?" after a verb and how indirect objects answer "To whom?", "To what?", "For whom?", or "For what?". The lesson also clarifies the important distinction between indirect objects and objects of prepositions following "to" or "for". Students practice locating both types of objects through sentence analysis exercises.

Section 1

Direct Objects

Definition

A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or word group that tells who or what receives the action of the verb.

Explanation

Think of the direct object as the thing that gets 'verbed.' It's the main target of the action! To find it, first spot the action verb. Then, ask yourself: 'verb what?' or 'verb whom?' The answer to that question is your direct object. It's the thing that is directly affected by the verb's action.

Examples

  • My dog chased the ball across the lawn. [The noun ball receives the action of the verb chased and answers the questionWhat did my dog chase?]
  • The teacher praised Maria and Leo for their hard work. [The nouns Maria and Leo receive the action of the verb praised and answer the questionWhom did the teacher praise?]
  • We are building a sandcastle and a moat at the beach. [The nouns sandcastle and moat receive the action of the verb are building and answer the question What are we building?]

Section 2

Indirect Objects

Definition

An indirect object is a noun, pronoun, or a word group that sometimes appears in sentences containing direct objects.

Explanation

The indirect object is the 'receiver' of the direct object. It tells you to whom or for whom the action was done. Here's a big tip: an indirect object almost always comes between the verb and the direct object. Also, remember it will never be found inside a prepositional phrase like 'to her' or 'for the team'.

Examples

  • The coach gave the players new uniforms. [The noun players is the indirect object. It answers the question To whom did the coach give uniforms?]
  • My father built me a bookshelf for my room. [The pronoun me is the indirect object. It answers the question For whom did my father build a bookshelf?]
  • The mail carrier delivered a package to my neighbor. [This sentence has no indirect object. The phrase to my neighbor is a prepositional phrase, and neighbor is the object of the preposition to.]

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Chapter 4: Complements: Direct and Indirect Objects, Subject Complements

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Recognizing Complements

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Objects of Verbs: Direct Objects, Indirect Objects

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Predicate Nominatives

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Predicate Adjectives

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Direct Objects

Definition

A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or word group that tells who or what receives the action of the verb.

Explanation

Think of the direct object as the thing that gets 'verbed.' It's the main target of the action! To find it, first spot the action verb. Then, ask yourself: 'verb what?' or 'verb whom?' The answer to that question is your direct object. It's the thing that is directly affected by the verb's action.

Examples

  • My dog chased the ball across the lawn. [The noun ball receives the action of the verb chased and answers the questionWhat did my dog chase?]
  • The teacher praised Maria and Leo for their hard work. [The nouns Maria and Leo receive the action of the verb praised and answer the questionWhom did the teacher praise?]
  • We are building a sandcastle and a moat at the beach. [The nouns sandcastle and moat receive the action of the verb are building and answer the question What are we building?]

Section 2

Indirect Objects

Definition

An indirect object is a noun, pronoun, or a word group that sometimes appears in sentences containing direct objects.

Explanation

The indirect object is the 'receiver' of the direct object. It tells you to whom or for whom the action was done. Here's a big tip: an indirect object almost always comes between the verb and the direct object. Also, remember it will never be found inside a prepositional phrase like 'to her' or 'for the team'.

Examples

  • The coach gave the players new uniforms. [The noun players is the indirect object. It answers the question To whom did the coach give uniforms?]
  • My father built me a bookshelf for my room. [The pronoun me is the indirect object. It answers the question For whom did my father build a bookshelf?]
  • The mail carrier delivered a package to my neighbor. [This sentence has no indirect object. The phrase to my neighbor is a prepositional phrase, and neighbor is the object of the preposition to.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 4: Complements: Direct and Indirect Objects, Subject Complements

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Recognizing Complements

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Objects of Verbs: Direct Objects, Indirect Objects

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Predicate Nominatives

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Predicate Adjectives

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