In a sentence, an object is a noun or pronoun that gives meaning to the subject and verb. There are two types of objects: direct objects and indirect objects.
Direct Object
The direct object is the person or thing that receives the action directly. Examples:
- Mary showed the photograph to me.
Direct object: the photograph
Indirect object: me
Indirect Object
The indirect object is the animate object or recipient of the action. It can appear before the direct object or after it, preceded by a preposition like "for" or "to." Examples:
- John gave the essay to his teacher.
Indirect object: his teacher
Direct object: the essay - The little boy brought some flowers for his grandmother.
Indirect object: his grandmother
Direct object: some flowers
Verbs and Object Transformation
Some verbs allow object transformation from direct to indirect or vice versa. Here are some examples:
- bring, get, pay
- build, give, paint
- buy, hand, pass
- cut, leave, show
- draw, lend, teach
- feed, make, tell
- find, offer, write
When using these verbs, we can follow two structures:
- Subject + verb + direct object + for/to + indirect object
- Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object (no preposition)
Examples:
- Incorrect: The director’s secretary sent to them the manuscript last night.
- Correct: The director’s secretary sent the manuscript to them last night.
- Correct: The director’s secretary sent them the manuscript last night.
- Incorrect: John gave the essay his teacher.
- Correct: John gave the essay to his teacher.
- Correct: John gave his teacher the essay.
- Incorrect: The little boy brought some flowers his grandmother.
- Correct: The little boy brought some flowers for his grandmother.
- Correct: The little boy brought his grandmother some flowers.
- Incorrect: I fixed a drink Helena.
- Correct: I fixed a drink for Helena.
- Correct: I fixed Helena a drink.
- Incorrect: He drew a picture his mother.
- Correct: He drew a picture for his mother.
- Correct: He drew his mother a picture.
- Incorrect: We owe several thousand dollars the bank.
- Correct: We owe several thousand dollars to the bank.
- Correct: We owe the bank several thousand dollars.
- Incorrect: I introduced Cena Dr. Lanister.
- Correct: I introduced Cena to Dr. Lanister.
- Incorrect: He mentioned the party me.
- Correct: He mentioned the party to me.
- Incorrect: I will send the books you next week.
- Correct: I will send you the books next week.
- Correct: I will send the books to you next week.
- Incorrect: My sister sent a game my daughter for her birthday.
- Correct: My sister sent a game to my daughter for her birthday.
- Correct: My sister sent my daughter a game for her birthday.
- Incorrect: Susan drew a lovely picture her boyfriend.
- Correct: Susan drew her boyfriend a lovely picture.
- Correct: Susan drew a lovely picture for her boyfriend.
- Incorrect: That teacher taught grammar us last year.
- Correct: That teacher taught grammar to us last year.
- Correct: That teacher taught us grammar last year.
- Incorrect: He thanked me the gift.
- Correct: He thanked me for the gift.
- Incorrect: I bought my mom a present Mother's Day.
- Correct: I bought my mom a present Mother's Day.
- Correct: I bought a present for my mom Mother's Day.