Please, copy the following info about

Direct Objects into your English Notebook

The direct object is not the subject of the sentence, it’s the noun receiving the action. The object isn’t doing anything, it’s having something done to it. A sentence doesn’t need a direct object to be a sentence.

Example: Jenny threw the flowers.

Explanation: Jenny is the subject; she’s the one doing the throwing. Flowers is the object; they aren’t doing anything, but something is being done to them—they are being thrown.

Example: Russell and Amanda feared the loss as friends.In this sentence ask yourself, “Feared what or who?” Answer: the loss.So “loss” is the direct object. Remember: The noun doing the action is the subject. The noun receiving the action is the direct object.

Underline the subject, circle the verb, box-in the direct object, and double underline the prepositional phrase.Underline the subject, circle the verb, box-in the direct object, and double underline the prepositional phrase.

Example: 50 Cent threw kisses to Lindsay upon her mother’s orders.

Underline the subject, circle the verb, box-in the direct object, and double underline the prepositional phrase.

In this sentence ask yourself, “Threw what?” Answer: kisses. So “kisses” is the direct object of the verb threw.

To help you find the direct object, first eliminate the prepositional phrases.

50 Cent threw kisses to Lindsay upon her mother’s orders.

Only nouns that are not the subject can be direct objects. By eliminating prepositonal phrases (which always end in a noun), it makes finding the direct object much easier.

Example: Matt and Katie gagged the principal then stole his car.

In this sentence ask yourself, “Who did they gag?” Answer: the principal. Also, ask yourself, “What did they steal?” Answer: his car.

Remember: The noun doing the action is the subject. The noun receiving the action is the direct object.

Underline the subject, circle the verb, box-in the direct object, and double underline the prepositional phrase.

Example: Tyler loves sushi.Ask yourself: What did Tyler love? Answer. Sushi. So, sushi is the

direct object because it is receiving the action of being loved.

Here’s another one:Example: Mallory and Jarred

robbed a store and stole an O-Town CD.

Ask Yourself: What did they rob?Answer: a store. So, store is the

direct object of rob because it is receiving the action of being robbed.

Ask yourself: What did they steal?

Answer: an O-Town CD. So, an O-Town CD is the direct object of steal because it is receiving the action of being stolen.

Example: Angie found the matches and started a bonfire in the quad.

Ask yourself: What did Angie find? Answer: matches. So, matches is

the direct object because it is receiving the action of being found.

Ask yourself: What did Angie start? Answer: bonfire. So, bonfire is

the direct object because it is receiving the action of being started.

You need a direct object to have an indirect object. An indirect object is really an understood prepositional phrase.

Example: Alex threw David the flowers.

Answer: Flowers is the direct object, and David is the indirect object

Ask yourself: “What did the subject throw?”

Answer: flowers Ask yourself, “To whom did the

subject throw the flowers?”Answer: to DavidExplanation: By answering “to

David,” it is an understood prepositional phrase because the word “to” is not in the sentence.

Example: Jason gave her a diamond.Ask yourself: “Gave what?”Answer: a diamond. Therefore,

diamond is receiving the action of being given and is the direct object.

Ask yourself, “To whom or what was the diamond given?”

Answer: to her. Her is the indirect object.