Direct and Indirect Objects


Source: Troyka, Lynn Quitman. Simon and Schuster Handbook for Writers.
Prentice Hall, 1996.


Subject and Predicate


*subject* -The word or group of words in a sentence that acts, is acted
upon, or is described by the verb.

*simple subject-*-includes only the noun or pronoun

*complete subject-*-includes the noun or pronoun and all its modifiers

*compound subject*--includes two or more nouns or pronouns and their
modifiers


*predicate*--The part of a sentence that contains the verb and tells what
the subject is doing or experiencing, or what is being done to the subject.

*simple predicate*--contains only the main verb and any auxiliary verb(s).

*complete predicate*--contains the verb, its modifiers, objects and other
related words

*compound predicate*--contains two or more verbs and their objects and
modifiers, if any


Recognizing direct and indirect objects


Direct objects and indirect objects occur in the predicate of a sentence.

A direct object receives the action-it completes the meaning-of a transitive
verb. To find a direct object, make up a whom? or what? question about the
verb.


The caller offered money.

verb--offered

direct object--money


The caller offered the lawyer money.


direct object--money

indirect object--lawyer


The caller offered money to the lawyer.

direct object--money

indirect object--lawyer


In sentences with indirect objects that follow the word "to" or "for,"
always put the direct object before the indirect object.


Example: Will you please give this letter to John?


When a pronoun is used as an indirect object, always use "to" or "for"
before the pronoun.


Example: Please explain the rule to me.



Sue


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