Direct and Indirect Objects & Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Direct Objects A direct object is a noun or a pronoun that a verb is done to. It answers a question of whom or what. Example: He kicked the ball. What is the direct object? Ball Why? Ball is the direct object because it is the noun that the verb is done to. Your turn. What is the direct object? The golfer hits the golf ball. The verb is hit so what did the golfer hit? The ball. So, ball is your direct object.

A verb can also have more than one direct object. Example: The team carried bats and gloves into the stadium. Carried is your verb. So ask yourself what was carried, the bats and gloves. Therefore, bats and gloves are your direct objects.

Indirect Objects An indirect object always comes before the direct object. The indirect object will not be in a prepositional phrase. Indirect objects describe to whom or for whom an action is done. Example: He kicked the ball. Kicked what? The ball, so the ball is your direct object. To add an indirect object you might say… He kicked the coach the ball. Kicked what? The ball, it is still your direct object, but to whom did he kick the ball ? The coach. Therefore, coach is your indirect object.

Be careful and look at how sentences are worded. For example: He kicked the coach the ball. ball = your direct object coach = your indirect object but what if the sentence was worded like this: He kicked the ball to the coach. Would coach still be your indirect object? No! Why you may ask. That is because “coach” is in a prepositional phrase. Which makes it the object of the preposition not an indirect object. But ball is still you direct object because you can ask kicked what? The ball!

Underline the Direct Object and circle the Indirect Object (if there is one). 1. The helper gives the players towels. 2.The university gave the tournament its support. 3.The coach gave all his players credit. 4. Several players gave him a pat on the back. 5. Mr. Bowers refereed the game. 6. The tournament sometimes attracts good athletes. 7. She asked Clayton some questions about his game. 8. Many fans paid the players tribute with a colorful banner.

Transitive & Intransitive Verbs If a sentence has a direct object it is a transitive verb. If a sentence does not have a direct object it is an intransitive verb. Does this have a transitive or intransitive verb? The team played well. Intransitive This means it has no direct object.

Tell whether this sentence is a transitive or intransitive verb. 1. The cow said moo! _______________ 2. Abreigh ran into the pole. ______________ 3. Christian swam. _______________ 4. Courtney cheered at the game. ____________ 5. Giuli kicked the ball. ________________ 6. Mr. Lombardo read the book to the class. _____________

1. The knights wore steel armor and helmets. 2. Women in beautiful gowns attended the tournaments. 3. Travelers took shelter in a castle or monastery. 4. King Edward III started a war with France. 5. Jill handed Jack the bucket. 6. I mailed my brother the birthday gift. PRACTICE