Direct and Indirect Objects

J. Wills

6th Grade Classroom Lesson

Direct Objects The direct object is the receiver of the

action in the sentence. For example:

The boy broke the dish.

Subject: boy Verb: broke

Direct Objects

The boy broke the dish.

What did the boy break? The boy broke the dish. Dish is the direct object of the sentence because it is receiving the action.

Direct ObjectsExample #2:

Melissa took the paper.

Subject: Melissa

Verb: took

The direct object is what Melissa took.

What did Melissa take?

Direct Objects

Melissa took the paper.

The paper is what Melissa took. “Paper” is the direct object of the sentence because it is

receiving the action.

Direct ObjectsExample #3

He called her yesterday.

Subject: He Verb: called

What is the direct object of this sentence?

Direct ObjectsHe called her yesterday.

“Her” is the direct object. Who did he call? He called her. “Yesterday” is an

adverb that tells when he called. It does not receive the action of the sentence.

Direct ObjectsFind the direct objects in the following

sentences. Thick ice covered the trees. The photographer accidentally dropped the

camera. Frustrated, Joey tossed his report card in

the garbage. The loud noise caught my attention.

Direct ObjectsThe direct objects are underlined. Thick ice covered the trees. The photographer accidentally dropped the

camera. Frustrated, Joey tossed his report card in

the garbage. The loud noise caught my attention.

Indirect Objects The indirect object is the secondary

receiver of the action in a sentence. For example:

Justin gave his girlfriend a diamond ring. Subject: Justin Verb: gave Direct Object: ring

Indirect Objects

Justin gave his girlfriend a diamond ring.

To whom did Justin give a diamond ring? He gave a diamond ring to his girlfriend. “Girlfriend” is the indirect object of this sentence.

“Girlfriend” cannot be the direct object of the sentence because Justin did not give his girlfriend. He gave a diamond ring.

Indirect ObjectsExample #2:

Mandy told her sister a joke.

Subject: Mandy Verb: told Direct Object: joke

To whom did Mandy tell a joke?

Indirect Objects

Mandy told her sister a joke.

Mandy told a joke to her sister. “Sister” is the indirect object of the sentence

because that is to whom Mandy told a joke. “Sister” is the secondary receiver of the

action in the sentence.

Indirect Objects Example #3:

He threw Billy the football.

Subject: He Verb: threw Direct Object: football

What is the indirect object of this sentence?

Indirect Objects

He threw Billy the football.

To whom did he throw the football? He threw the football to Billy. “Billy” is the indirect object of the sentence.

Three Important Things To Remember About Indirect Objects

#1: The indirect object cannot exist without a direct object. For example:

We gave him the bicycle.

We gave him.

Without the indirect object, the original sentence’s meaning is changed.

Three Important Things To Remember About Indirect Objects

Why can’t there be an indirect object without a direct object?

Remember, the indirect object is the secondary receiver of the action in a sentence, and the direct object is the primary receiver of the action. Without a primary receiver of the action, you cannot have a secondary receiver.

Three Important Things To Remember About Indirect Objects

#2: The indirect object can be put into a prepositional phrase. For example:

He sent them everything.He sent everything to them.

In the second sentence, “them” is no longer an indirect object because it is part of a

prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases are never direct or indirect objects.

Three Important Things To Remember About Indirect Objects

#3: The indirect object can be removed without making the sentence incomplete.

Matt told Lauren the news.

Matt told the news. The second sentence is still grammatically

correct without the indirect object.

Indirect ObjectsFind the indirect objects in the following

sentences. The store was handing customers free

samples. Eric gave Angie ten dollars. John sent me a letter.

Indirect ObjectsThe indirect objects are shaded in blue.

The store was handing customers free samples.

Eric gave Angie ten dollars. John sent me a letter.

Practice With Direct and Indirect Objects

Find the direct and indirect objects in the following sentences. Not all sentences will have both direct and indirect objects.

We gave Mike an award for winning the race. The skater fell on the ice. Becky handed me the telephone. Sam traded baseball cards with his brother. Lisa bought her sister a birthday present.

Practice With Direct and Indirect Objects

We gave Mike an award for winning the race.

Sam traded baseball cards with his brother.(Remember, prepositional phrases are not

direct or indirect objects!) Becky handed me the telephone. The skater fell on the ice. Lisa bought her sister a birthday present.