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Sentence: Maurice kicked the ball.
What did Maurice kick? The direct object, ball.
Sentence: Maurice kicked Tom by accident.
Who did Maurice kick? The direct object, Tom.
An indirect object does not receive the action of the verb.
The action (writes) is performed for or to the indirect object (me).
Tip
Even though the indirect object is not found after a preposition in English, it can be
discovered by asking to whom? or for whom? after the verb.
Sentence: Dad baked the children some cookies.
For whom did Dad bake the cookies? The indirect object, children.
Exercise 2
On a separate sheet of paper, identify the subject, verb, direct object, and indirect object
in the following sentences.
- Captain Kirk told the crew a story.
- Jermaine gave his girlfriend a dozen yellow tulips.
- That hospital offers nurses better pay.
- Dad served Grandma a delicious dinner.
- Mom bought herself a new car.
Exercise 3
On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the sentences in the correct order. If the sentence
is correct as it is, write OK.
- The pizza Jeannine burnt.
- To the Mexican restaurant we had to go for dinner.
- Jeannine loved the food.