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Basic Grammar Skills

Lesson 4: Sentence Structure

Direct Objects

Howard Faulkner states in his book "Rules of the Game An Introductory English Grammar" that "A direct object is a noun or other nominal following a transitive active verb and answering the question whom or what:

Who ate the last piece of cake?
I ate it.
He wiped the crumbs from his beard and threw the napkin away.
'I like your chocolate cake,' he told her.
'Thanks,' she said. " (101)

Here are the direct objects in the above sentences:

1. piece - The question is "Who ate what? Piece."
2. it - The question is "I ate what? It."
3. crumbs - The question is "He wiped what? Crumbs."
4. cake - The question is "He liked what? "Cake."
5. Thanks - The question is "She said what? Thanks."

All of these direct objects answer the questions whom or what.

For further information about Direct Objects, you can look on Pages 101-102 of Howard Faulkner's book, "The Rules of the Game An Introductory English Grammar." This book is not required for the course.

Direct Objects are also explained in "Scholastic Guides Checking Your Grammar" by Marvin Terban on page 37.

He says "The direct object is the person, animal, place, thing, or idea that receives the action of the verb." (37)

For example: "Carlos locked the coach in the gym." (37)

Coach is the direct object of this sentence. Coach is the one who is receiving the action.

Exercises

Directions: Underline the direct object of each sentence.

1. I brought the book to my aunt.

2. Tom bought Mary an engagement ring.

3. Cindy gave her resignation to her boss.

4. The children visited the zoo today.

5. My aunt gives me gifts every year.

Exercises