Direct object and Indirect object?

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Anonymous:

what is the difference between a direct and an indirect object?

Anonymouswhat is the difference between a direct and an indirect object?

Easiest way for me to explain: direct object receives the action of the verb [I sold the cake]; indirect object receives the direct object [I sold my mother the cake]...

Get's a little tricky with "commnication verbs": "She told us a story". The story is the direct object; we 'sorta' received the story, so 'us' is the indirect object.

Try finding some sentences in which both have been labeled, and see if the above helps at all.

Veteran Member15,089

Anonymous:

I still don't understand. could you give another example?

CalifJim:

The direct object is the thing going from the subject to the indirect object.
The indirect object is the person who receives the direct object from the subject.

The idea of going from one person to another is based on the verb give, where the movement from one person to another is more obvious. With other verbs the movement from one person to another is not necessarily literal motion.
_______

Fred gave Mary a diamond ring.

The diamond ring went from Fred to Mary. Fred is the subject. Mary is the indirect object. a diamond ring is the direct object.
_______

Henry told Susan a lie.

The lie 'went' from Henry to Susan. Henry is the subject. Susan is the indirect object. a lie is the direct object.
_______

The teacher showed the diagrams to the students.

The diagrams 'went' from the teacher to the students. the teacher is the subject. the students is the indirect object. the diagrams is the direct object.
_______

The boss brought us doughnuts and coffee.

The doughnuts and coffee went from the boss to us. the boss is the subject. us is the indirect object. the doughnuts and coffee is the direct object.
______

Once in a great while the indirect object is not a person.

The boy gave his shoes a good polishing.

The polishing 'went' from the boy to the shoes. the boy is the subject. his shoes is the indirect object. a good polishing is the direct object.

CJ

Veteran Member45,921

Anonymous:

give me an example of a sentence that has a pattern of subject-verb-direct object-indirect object.

Clive:

Hi,
give me an example of a sentence that has a pattern of subject-verb-direct object-indirect object.

I gave an example to you.

Best wishes, Clive

Veteran Member61,689

Fandorin:

It's awesome!!! Thank you, CJ. Anywhen I see your replies, it keeps me improving. Emotion: smile

Contributing Member1,991

Anonymous:

a direct object receives the action directly from the doer.
an indirect object is to whom or for whom the action was done.

She gave us new seats. (She is the subject, gave is the verb) She gave what? seats (direct object) To whom did she give seats (us: indirect object)

Anonymous:

Transitive verbs generally take two objects -- a direct object and an indirect object. For example, John gave Jeff his pen. Both Jeff and his pen are objects of the verb 'gave'.

If one asks the question John gave What or Whom? We get the answer: What -- a pen, Whom -- Jeff. The answer towhat gives us the direct object and the answer to Whom gives us the indirect object.

Direct object and Indirect object?

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