Direct objects

Direct objects are nouns, pronouns, clauses and phrases. Direct objects follow transitive verbs (action
verbs that require something or someone to receive the action). You can identify the direct object by
using this simple formula: subject + verb + who? or what? = DIRECT OBJECT. Try using this formula to
determine the direct object as you consider the following example:
Example 1: Dennis and Susan ate omelets for breakfast.
The subject is Dennis and Susan, and the verb is ate. Next ask yourself the question who or
what? about the verb ate. What did the subject, Dennis and Susan, eat? They ate omelets.
Therefore, the direct object is omelets.
Consider the following example to find the direct object that follows a clause or phrase:
Example 2: Sophia hates when her father lectures her about her grades.
The subject is Sophia, and the verb is hates. Next ask yourself the question who or what? about
the verb hates. What does the subject, Sophia, hate? She hates when her father lectures her about
her grades. This subordinate clause (a combination of words that contain a subject and a verb, but do
not form a complete sentence) is the direct object of the sentence.
Confusing direct objects with subject complements
It is easy to mistake a direct object for a subject complement. By definition, a subject complement is a
clause or phrase that follows a linking verb, such as is, are or was, and complements, or completes,
the subject of a sentence by describing or renaming it. It is important to note that only action verbs
can have direct objects. Therefore, if the verb is a linking one, the word that answers the question
what or who is a subject complement. Consider the following examples:
Example 1: The chauffeur accidentally locked his keys in his limousine.
Chauffeur is the subject, and locked is the action verb. What did the chauffeur lock? Answer: his
keys, the direct object.
Example 2: The chauffeur was happy to find a spare key.
Chauffeur is the subject and was is the linking verb. The chauffeur was what? Answer: happy, the
subject complement.
Pronouns as direct objects
Never use subjective pronouns as direct objects. When you need a direct object, always use the
objective form of the pronoun. Object pronouns are me, us, you, him, her, it, them and
whom. Consider the following example:
Example: After I give my daughter Olivia a lollipop, she always kisses me with her sticky mouth.
She is the subject, kisses is the action verb and me is the direct object.
Indirect objects
Indirect objects are nouns or pronouns that identify to whom or for whom the action of the verb is
performed, as well as who is receiving the direct object. Indirect objects are seen infrequently. In order
to have an indirect object, there is a direct object. The indirect object typically precedes the direct

object and is identified by asking who or what received the direct object. Consider the following
examples:
Example 1: Samuel sent his aunt a postcard from Marthas Vineyard.
Samuel is the subject, and sent is the verb. Ask the question sent what? A postcard is the
direct object. To determine the indirect object, ask who received the direct object. His aunt is the
indirect object.
Example 2: Marc paints the house for his family.
Marc is the subject, and paints is the verb. Ask the question paints what? The house is the
direct object. To determine the indirect object, ask for whom did the subject do the action? For his
family is the indirect object.
Sometimes an indirect object comes before the direct object. Consider the following example:
Example 3: Alexa gave me her algebra notes.
Alexa is the subject, and gave is the verb. Ask the question gave what? Algebra notes is the
direct object. To determine the indirect object, ask for whom did the subject do the action? Me is the
indirect object, and it came before the direct object in this sentence.