1. Noun Functions Subjects Direct Objects Indirect Objects Predicate Nouns Objects of a Preposition Appositives

2. Indirect Objects A noun or pronoun that indirectly receives the action of an ACTION verb. Answers the questions, to whom or what, or for whom or what, something is done. This noun or pronoun will usually be located between the ACTION verb and the Direct Object. There will NEVER be an indirect object without a direct object.

3. In the following examples, the indirect object is bold and the direct object is underlined. If you would like, we can give Martha the tickets to tonight's game. – To determine the indirect object, ask who or what received the direct object. Emil sent his brother a postcard from the hotel. – Emil did not send his brother. He sent a postcard to his brother. The noun receiving the direct object is the indirect object.

4. Did the students give their teacher the assignment? – Look for the object that receives the action of the verb and then who or what receives that object. After class, Randall will give the students their papers. – Once you identify the verb, ask whether the verb was done to someone or something. For example: Will Randall give someone or something? Yes, he will give papers. To whom will he give them? Students. Students is the indirect object.

5. Can you write the clerk a check for the groceries? – Identify the subject, find the verb the subject is engaged in, determine if it is an action verb, ask who or what is receiving the action and then ask who or what is receiving that object.

6. Most sentences with indirect objects can be rewritten to change the indirect object into a prepositional phrase that follows the direct object. [In the following examples, the direct object is bold and the indirect object is underlined.] During the play's intermission, Alice gave Tracy her coat. – The object receiving the action of the verb—in other words the object that ALICE GAVE—is COAT, making it the direct object. TRACY received the direct object, making her the indirect object. During the play’s intermission, Alice gave her coat to Tracy. TRACY is no longer the indirect object. Now TO TRACY is a prepositional phrase.

7. Rewrite the following sentences so that the indirect objects are turned into prepositional phrases. Stephen offered his brother a chance to win a million dollars. The director assigned the team a project that everyone else had refused. After the marathon, race organizers gave the participants a banana, a bottle of water and a t-shirt. The detective showed the witness a picture of a possible suspect in the assault.