{"id":4051,"date":"2013-06-27T17:12:12","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T17:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=4051"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:21:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:21:58","slug":"direct-and-indirect-objects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/direct-and-indirect-objects\/","title":{"rendered":"Direct and Indirect Objects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_nFNXp-8Z0aQ\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_nFNXp-8Z0aQ\" data-source-videoID=\"nFNXp-8Z0aQ\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Direct and Indirect Objects Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Direct and Indirect Objects\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_nFNXp-8Z0aQ:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_nFNXp-8Z0aQ {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/1978-thumb-final-1.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_nFNXp-8Z0aQ\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_nFNXp-8Z0aQ\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Direct and Indirect Objects\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_nFNXp-8Z0aQ\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_nFNXp-8Z0aQ\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_nFNXp-8Z0aQ\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction ejl_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"ejl\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"ejl_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"ejl\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Direct_Objects\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Direct Objects<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Indirect_Objects\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Indirect Objects<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Practice_Questions\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Practice Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Hi, and welcome to this review of <strong>direct and indirect objects<\/strong>! In this video, we\u2019ll define what the object of a sentence is and take a look at the differences between direct and indirect objects. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n<p>To begin, let\u2019s go over what an object of a sentence is. An object is a word or phrase that is affected by the action of the verb. In other words, the object will receive the action of the verb. In the sentence \u201cJake threw the ball,\u201d the word ball is the object because that is what is being thrown.<\/p>\n<p>Objects are split into two categories: direct and indirect. As the names suggest, a direct object is directly affected by the verb, while an indirect object is indirectly affected. That\u2019s a pretty simplified explanation, so let\u2019s take a closer look to see how this works.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Direct_Objects\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Direct Objects<\/h2>\n<p>\nA direct object is a noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of a verb. A good way to find a direct object in a sentence is to find the verb and then ask the question who or what.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look back at the example sentence from earlier.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">\u201cJake threw the ball.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe object in this sentence, which we identified as ball, is a direct object. If we look at the verb (threw) and ask \u201cwho\/what is being thrown,\u201d the answer is ball.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jake@300x-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s another example sentence:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">\u201cKerry and I ate bacon for breakfast this morning.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe verb here is ate, so we would ask \u201cwho\/what was being eaten\u201d to find the direct object. In this case, the word bacon answers that question, so bacon is the direct object of the sentence.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Kerry@300x-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now, take a look at this sentence:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">\u201cShe stood at the train station for an hour.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIf you follow the steps we took for the last two examples, you should notice that this sentence does NOT have a direct object. There is no word that answers the question \u201cwho\/what is being stood.\u201d Remember, a sentence does not need to have an object for it to be a sentence; all it needs is a subject and a verb.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/She@300x-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Indirect_Objects\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Indirect Objects<\/h2>\n<p>\nNow let\u2019s take a look at indirect objects. Instead of receiving the action directly from the verb, the indirect object receives the action directly from the direct object. That\u2019s where the indirect connection to the verb comes in. A good way to find an indirect object in a sentence is to find the verb and then ask to\/for whom or for what.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at an example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">\u201cRen gave her pencil to Colin.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nFirst, let\u2019s find the direct object, since that is what the indirect object is taking the action of. The verb in this sentence is gave, and the word that answers \u201cwho\/what is being given\u201d is pencil. Now that we know the direct object, we ask, \u201cTo whom was the pencil given?\u201d. Ren gave her pencil to Colin, so Colin is the indirect object.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ren@300x-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s one more example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">\u201cYvonne sent me a letter in the mail.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nLet\u2019s go through the same steps as before. The verb here is sent, and the word that answers \u201cwho\/what is being sent\u201d is letter. Now we ask, \u201cTo whom was the letter sent?\u201d Yvonne sent the letter to me, so the indirect object of the sentence is the pronoun me.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yvonne@300x-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215971\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><span id=\"Practice_Questions\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Practice Questions<\/h2>\n<p>\nOkay, let\u2019s go over a couple of review questions before we go.<\/p>\n<p>1. What is the direct object of the following sentence?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy dog ate the sandwich I left on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n<ol style=\"list-style: upper-alpha;\">\n<li>Dog<\/li>\n<li>Sandwich<\/li>\n<li>Table<\/li>\n<li>I<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n   <button class=\"buttontranscript\" onClick=\"toggle('Answer1')\">Show Answer<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"Answer1\" class=\"showanswer\">\n   <strong>The correct answer is <em>B<\/em>. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The word sandwich is the only word that answers \u201cwho\/what was being eaten,\u201d so it is the direct object of the sentence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n2. What is the indirect object of the following sentence?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe teacher gave Emily an A on her exam.\u201d<\/p>\n<ol style=\"list-style: upper-alpha;\">\n<li>Exam<\/li>\n<li>Teacher<\/li>\n<li>Emily<\/li>\n<li>A<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n   <button class=\"buttontranscript\" onClick=\"toggle('Answer2')\">Show Answer<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"Answer2\" class=\"showanswer\">\n   <strong>The correct answer is <em>C<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"> The direct object of the sentence is the word A because that\u2019s what the teacher gave. When we ask \u201cto whom was the A given,\u201d the word Emily is the only word that answers the question, so it is the indirect object of the sentence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThat\u2019s all for this review! Thanks for watching, and happy studying!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/parts-of-a-sentence\/\">Return to Parts of a Sentence Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nfunction toggle(obj) {\n          var obj=document.getElementById(obj);\n          if (obj.style.display == \"block\") obj.style.display = \"none\";\n          else obj.style.display = \"block\";\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Parts of a Sentence Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151237,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4051","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-parts-of-a-sentence-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4051"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":239533,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4051\/revisions\/239533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}