O
object^1 n
the noun, noun phrase or clause, or pronoun in sentences with transitive
verbs, which is traditionally described as being affected by the action of
the verb. The object of a verb can be affected by the verb either directly or
indirectly.
If it is affected directly, it may be called the direct object. In English, the
direct object of a verb may be:
acreated by the action of the verb, as in:
Terry baked a cake.
bchanged in some way by the action of the verb as in:
Terry baked a potato.
c perceived by the subjectof the verb, as in:
Terry saw the cake.
devaluated by the subject of the verb, as in:
Terry liked the cake.
e obtained or possessed by the subject of the verb, as in:
Terry bought the cake.
If the object of a verb is affected by the verb indirectly, it is usually called the
indirect object. In English, the indirect object may be:
athe receiver of the direct object, as in:
Terry gave methe cake. (=“Terry gave the cake to me”)
bthe beneficiary of the action of the verb, as in:
Terry baked methe cake. (=“Terry baked the cake for me”)
In English, direct objects and many indirect objects can become subjects
when sentences in the active voice are changed to the passive voice (see
voice^1 ):
The cakewas given (to) me.
Iwas given the cake.
see also goal^1 , object of result
object^2 (of a preposition) n
another term for prepositional complement
see complement
object case n
another term for objective case
object complement n
see complement