Pages 135-136,138

Using Nouns as Direct Objects

A direct object is a noun (or a pronoun) that follows an action

verb and receives the action from that verb. It answers the
question whom or what after the verb.

Example:

A good tree bears good fruit. (Bears is an action verb, so there may be a
direct object. Tree bears what? The answer is fruit, so fruit is the direct object.)

If no word answers the question whom or what after the action

verb, the sentence does not have a direct object.

Example:

She smiled pleasantly. (Did she smile anything? No; pleasantly is an adverb
telling how she smiled.)
3 Direct objects can never be in prepositional phrases.
Example:

We ate steak at a fine restaurant. (We ate what? We ate steak. Steak is the
direct object. Restaurant is the object of the preposition at.)
4 Direct objects may be compound.
Example:

God created the heaven and the earth. (God created what? Heaven and
earth. Heaven and earth is the compound direct object.)

Exercise A

Draw a circle around the direct objects in the

following sentences. Find the action verb and ask whom or what after the
verb. Remember the direct object cannot be in a prepositional phrase.
1. Bears often eat grubworms and fish.
2. Achan hid the silver and gold in his tent.
3. Check your papers for correct spelling.
4. The band needs a flute player and a drummer before next week.
5. Samson killed the lion with his bare hands.
6. Ananias kept part of the price of the land for himself.
7. The President gave the State of the Union address in January.
8. Hardwood trees lose their leaves in late fall.
9. The Israelites won a decisive battle at Jericho.
10.Daniel gave the credit to God for the interpretation of dreams.
11.The typist carefully checked the letter for errors.
12.Johnathan loved David like his own brother.
13.Adverbs can modify verbs, adjective, or other adverbs.
14.King Richard the Lion-Hearted fought many battles against the Muslims
during the Third Crusade.
15.Ivy does not generally need a large amount of sunlight.

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Pages 135-136,138
16.The teacher gave two lectures on the cause of the Seven Years War.
17.Martin Luther studied the Bible diligently.
18.Eli Whitney invented a system of interchangeable parts for rifles.

Exercise B

Draw a circle around the direct objects in the

following sentences. There may be more than one direct object in each
sentence.
1. The fierce wind lashed the trees wildly.
2. My brother and I dug the potatoes and picked the squash.
3. The Talmud contains a collections of rules for the Jew.
4. Nero severely persecuted Christians in the first century.
5. A musical staff contains five lines and four spaces.
6. The student pilot flew the required hours for a private license.
7. The pioneers often made their westward journeys in Conestoga wagons.
8. Southern armies won great victories at Bull Run and Fredericksburg.
9. One should always pass the salt and pepper together.
10.Esau sold his birthright to Jacob.
11.Johnathan Sebastian Bach left a legacy of masterful compositions to posterity.
12.Secretary of State William Seward secured the Alaskan territory for America.
13.The linebacker saved the game with his fierce tackles.
14.People often debate the morality of the trade relations with Communist
countries.
15.Gideon gave a trumpet, a lamp, and an empty pitcher to every one of the
three hundred men.

Using Nouns as Indirect Objects

An indirect object is a noun (or pronoun) that precedes the

direct object and tells to whom or for whom, or to what or for
what the action of the verb is done.

Example:

The Sunday school superintendent gave Emily an award. (Superintendent

gave what? Superintendent gave award. Award is the direct object. Superintendent
gave to whom an award? Superintendent gave to Emily and award. Emily is the
indirect object.)
2 Indirect objects can never be in prepositional phrases.
Example:
Gavin gave his friend a compliment. (Friend is an indirect object telling to
whom Gavin gave a compliment. Notice that the indirect object comes between the
action verb and the direct object.)
Gavin gave a compliment to his friend. (Friend is not an indirect object in this
sentence. Friend is in a prepositional phrase and is the object of the preposition to.)
3 Indirect objects may be compound.
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Pages 135-136,138
Example:

The quarter back threw John (io) and Christopher (io) long passes (do).

Always look for the direct object first, and then the indirect
object. If there is no direct object, there can be no indirect
object.

Exercise A

Draw a circle around each noun used as a direct object

and underline each noun used as an indirect object.
1. Mia wrote Gabriella a letter from Portugal.
2. We should trust God for all our needs.
3. The storm tested the skill of the pilot.
4. We took Jordan and Caleb the assignments they had missed.
5. The manager furnished each camper linens and towels.
6. Jesus showed men the only way to heaven.
7. My great uncle left out family several prized heirlooms.
8. God gives Christians many opportunities and blessings.
9. Take the name of Jesus with you.
10.Miss Redman taught the class valuable principles of composition.

Copyright mmx Pensacola Christian College Not to be reproduced.