2.  A transitive verb takes a direct object (She bit me) as opposed to an intransitive verb, which doesn’t (He swam home) or (He swam in the pool).  In the dictionary, a tran- sitive verb is indicated by vt, and intransitive verb by vi.

3.  The direct object is not the subject of the sentence, it’s the noun receiving the action. The object isn’t doing anything, it’s having something done to it. A sentence doesn’t need a direct object to be a sentence.

4.  Example: Jenny threw the flowers.  Explanation: Jenny is the subject; she’s the one doing the throwing. Flowers is the object; they aren’t doing anything, but something is being done to them—they are being thrown.

5.  Example: Russell and Amanda feared the loss as friends.  In this sentence ask yourself, “Feared what or who?” Answer: the loss.So “loss” is the direct object.  Remember: The noun doing the action is the subject. The noun receiving the action is the direct object. Underline the subject, circle the verb, box-in the direct object, and double underline the prepositional phrase.

6.  Example: 50 Cent threw kisses to Lindsay upon her mother’s orders. Underline the subject, circle the verb, box-in the direct object, and double underline the prepositional phrase. In this sentence ask yourself, “Threw what?” Answer: kisses. So “kisses” is the direct object of the verb threw.

7.  To help you find the direct object, first eliminate the prepositional phrases.  50 Cent threw kisses to Lindsay upon her mother’s orders.  Only nouns that are not the subject can be direct objects. By eliminating prepositonal phrases (which always end in a noun), it makes finding the direct object much easier.

8. EExample: Matt and Katie gagged the principal then stole his car. IIn this sentence ask yourself, “Who did they gag?” Answer: the principal. Also, ask yourself, “What did they steal?” Answer: his car. RRemember: The noun doing the action is the subject. The noun receiving the action is the direct object. Underline the subject, circle the verb, box-in the direct object, and double underline the prepositional phrase.

9.  Example: Tyler loves sushi.  Ask yourself: What did Tyler love?  Answer. Sushi. So, sushi is the direct object because it is receiving the action of being loved.  Here’s another one:  Example: Mallory and Jarred robbed a store and stole an O-Town CD.

10.  Ask Yourself: What did they rob?  Answer: a store. So, store is the direct object of rob because it is receiving the action of being robbed.  Ask yourself: What did they steal?  Answer: an O-Town CD. So, an O- Town CD is the direct object of steal because it is receiving the action of being stolen.

11.  Example: Angie found the matches and started a bonfire in the quad.  Ask yourself: What did Angie find?  Answer: matches. So, matches is the direct object because it is receiving the action of being found.  Ask yourself: What did Angie start?  Answer: bonfire. So, bonfire is the direct object because it is receiving the action of being started.

12.  You need a direct object to have an indirect object. An indirect object is really an understood prepositional phrase.  Example: Alex threw David the flowers.  Answer: Flowers is the direct object, and David is the indirect object

13. AAsk yourself: “What did the subject throw?” AAnswer: flowers AAsk yourself, “To whom did the subject throw the flowers?” AAnswer: to David EExplanation: By answering “to David,” it is an understood prepositional phrase because the word “to” is not in the sentence.

14.  Remember, an indirect object is really an understood prepositional phrase. It names the person (or thing) to whom (or to what) or for whom (or for what) something is done.  However: When the word naming the indirect receiver of the action is contained in a prepositional phrase, it is no longer considered an indirect object.

15. EExample: Jason gave her a diamond. AAsk yourself: “Gave what?” AAnswer: a diamond. Therefore, diamond is receiving the action of being given and is the direct object. AAsk yourself, “To whom or what was the diamond given?” AAnswer: to her. Her is the indirect object.

16. EExample: Jason put on an expensive coat for her. AAsk yourself, “Put what?” AAnswer: There is no logical answer, so the verb is intransitive and “her” is the object of the preposition “for.” Sorry, but it gets tricky some times.