Direct Objects for intermediate learners
Generally, an object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that usually comes after the verb. In this article we will talk about the direct objects.
What Are Direct Objects?
In grammar, a direct object is a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun, that directly receives the action of the transitive verb in a sentence.
Transitive Verbs and Direct Objects
Some verbs are transitive which means they need an object to form a complete sentence. This type of verb can take more than one direct object. Take a look at the following examples:
When will you
Here, if you remove 'the book', the sentence will remain incomplete.
I can only
Now let us analyze how nouns, noun phrases and pronouns can function as direct objects.
Nouns as Direct Objects
Some English verbs require a noun as their object. In such cases, any noun -whether proper or common, countable or uncountable, and singular or plural- can function as the object. Let us study the following examples carefully:
Johnny talked to a
Here, 'cat' is used as the object and it is a common noun.
I saw
Here, 'Peggy' is the object and it is a proper noun.
Noun Phrases as Objects
A noun phrase is a group of words that includes a noun and any words that modify it, such as adjectives or determiners. Noun phrases can function as objects* in a sentence. Take a look at the examples below:
Yesterday, I read
She corrected
Pronouns as Direct Objects
As you know, pronouns are substitutes for nouns that are used to avoid repetition. First, let us go over object pronouns:
Subject Pronouns | Object Pronouns | |
---|---|---|
First Person Singular | I | Me |
Second Person Singular | You | You |
Third Person Singular (M) | He | Him |
Third Person Singular (F) | She | Her |
Third Person Singular (N) | It | It |
First Person Plural | We | Us |
Second Person Plural | You | You |
Third Person Plural | They | Them |
Now, let us take a look at some examples below:
Give
As you can see, 'give' needs two objects in order to be complete.
Would you please tell
Finding Direct Objects
Tip!
Keep in mind that gerunds can function as objects too. Take a look at the following examples:
I love
Does she enjoy
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Subjects
In English grammar, the subject of a clause is the noun referring to the person or thing that is doing the action of the verb. We will learn all about it here.
Objects
Simply put, an object is a noun or pronoun representing the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb. Here, we'll explain more.
Indirect Objects
As you know, there are three different groups of objects in English. This article is about indirect objects and their functions.
Objects of Prepositions
Objects of prepositions are used when we know there must be an object after the prepositions.
