Analyze the following scheme, point out the elements of the sentence and the predicative construction. Compare it to the scheme of the same construction with the Infinitive

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What are nouns?What are pronouns?What are verbs?What are prepositions?What is a direct object?What is an indirect object?What is the object of a preposition?What are noun phrases?What are noun clauses?What are objective pronouns?More on who & whomGlossary of grammatical terms

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 Objects in English language explained

Definition of objects in English language

Now that you know what subjects are, let’s have a look at the objects. Generally, we use the word ‘object’ to talk about the thing/person that the action is done to. Or, the one who receives the action. 

A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb in a sentence. Usually, it answers the questions what? or whom? about the verb. Choose the direct object(s) in each sentence.

 

Examples of direct objects in English language

The direct object of a verb is the thing being acted upon. So, it means it is the receiver of the action. Usually, you can find the direct object by finding the verb and asking “what?” or “whom?”. For example:

• 
  Mike loves doughnuts. (Mike loves what? The object is ‘doughnuts’.)
  
• 
  James got his IELTS scores yesterday. (James got what? The object is ‘his IELTS scores’.)
  
• 
  I put the orange cat into the garden. (I put what (into the garden)? The object is ‘the orange cat’.)
  

 

Examples of indirect objects in English language

Apart from direct objects, there are also indirect objects. An indirect object is the recipient of the direct object. How do you find an indirect object in a sentence? You can find the indirect object by first finding the direct object. Then, ask “who” or “what” received it. The indirect object will chronologically exist before the direct object in a sentence. Have a look at the example sentences below. We have put the direct objects in bold and underlined the indirect objects.

• 
  Can you give Tomoko the keys?
  

1. 
   Find the direct object: Give what? the keys
   
2. 
   Find the indirect object: Who (or what) received the keys? Tomoko
   

• 
  The bartender made Gracie an ice-cold drink.
  

1. 
   Find the direct object: The bartender made what? An ice-cold drink
   
2. 
   The bartender made a cold drink for for whom? Gracie
   

 

Examples of the object of a preposition in English language

It gets a little trickier now. We call the noun or pronoun after a preposition the object of a preposition. When you know the direct object, finding an indirect object is fairly simple. Remember, you find a direct object by asking “what?” or “whom?” the verb is doing. Then, to find an indirect object, ask “to whom/what?” or “for whom/what” the direct object is intended. Have a look at the example sentences below. We have put the prepositions in bold and underlined the objects of prepositions.

• 
  Emily is from Ireland.
  
• 
  You can tell from her accent that Emily is from Ireland.
  

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