Delahunty and Garvey
tences. For example, John Lennon wrote [many great songs].
a. Oscar ate the hamburger.
b. Akim read his book.
c. The CEO told several lies.
d. Some sentences contain modifiers.
e. Cats like catnip.
- Very easy question: What is the typical order of subjects, verbs, and
objects in English clauses?
Some sentences contain two objects, separated by brackets in the follow-
ing examples:
a. Frederick sent [his mother] [flowers] for her birthday.
b. Mathilda gave [the children] [a pumpkin].
c. The book shows [its readers] [all of the most important monuments].
d. Dad baked [the children] [a birthday cake].
Both objects are part of the predicate and follow the main verb in these
clauses. The first is the indirect object; the second is the direct object.
Again, note that each can consist of one or more words.
Traditionally, the indirect object is viewed as the phrase that represents
the “recipient” of whatever is denoted by the direct object, or the “benefi-
ciary” of whatever situation is denoted by the clause. Thus, his mother is the
recipient of flowers according to (a) above, and the children represents the
beneficiary of dad’s baking in (d).
Exercise
- Put brackets around both complete objects in each of the follow-
ing clauses, and indicate which phrase is the direct and which is the
indirect object. For example, She gave the dog [a bone]
(Direct).
a. We offer all our customers unparalleled values.
b. The store rented them the video.
c. Show me your etchings!
d. Bring my friend another beer!
e. Send the senator a protest letter!