Direct Objects I hope you’re prepared for the greatest period of English you’ve ever had.

Direct Objects A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive action verb. Question: How can I tell if a word is a direct object? Answer: You can determine if a word is a direct object by asking Whom? or What? after an action verb.

Direct Object Examples -In the following examples, the subjects are underlined once, the action verbs are in black font and the direct objects are italicized. Notice how each direct object answers the question Whom? or What? 1.The hailstorm bombarded the picnickers. ** Ask yourself: Bombarded whom? Answer: picnickers

Examples Cont… The rugby players are running the ball. Ask yourself: Are running what? Answer: the Ball

Give it a Shot! Identify the direct object in each of the following sentences: 1.A YMCA instructor invented basketball in In basketball, players put a ball through a basket to make points. 3.The winning team scores the most points. 4.Spectators first watched basketball in the nineteenth century. 5.Most states now hold championships in basketball.

Take Note… Not every sentence has a direct object. You need to ask Whom? or What? after the verb to determine if there is a direct object. For example: 1. Jenn won the match. 2. Jenn won yesterday. - Won what? There is no answer, so there is no direct object.

Compound Direct Objects A compound direct object is two or more nouns or pronouns that receive the action of the same verb. Example: We photographed the players and the coach. ** If a sentence contains a compound direct object, asking the question Whom? or What? after the verb will lead to two or more answers.