Basic Grammar Skills

Lesson 4: Sentence Structure

Indirect Objects

In the last section, you learned about direct objects. Now, you will learn about indirect objects.

Indirect Objects

Howard Faulkner states in his book "Rules of the Game An Introductory English Grammar" that "If a verb has two objects, the first, the indirect object, may indicate the recipient of the action, the second, the direct object, what was affected:

1. He gave me two dollars.
2. She brought her father the book.
3. He asked her a question.
4. I told the jury the truth.

In the first sentence, the word me is the indirect object. The direct object is two dollars.

In the second sentence, father is the indirect object. The direct object is book.

In the third sentence, her is the indirect object. Question is the direct object.

In the fourth sentence, jury is the indirect object. Truth is the direct object.

Indirect Objects are also stated in the book Scholastic Guides Checking Your Grammar by Marvin Terban on page 37-38.

He states that "The indirect object receives the action of the verb-indirectly. Should I send David some extra money?"

David is the indirect object. He is receiving the money.

Exercises

Directions: Underline the indirect object in each sentence.

1. My aunt likes to give me candy for my Christmas and Birthday.

2. I bought a book for my aunt on her birthday.

3. My church provided a Thanksgiving dinner for us one year.

4. Christy gave Megan her favorite mystery book.

5. Tim's mother bought him a new basketball for his birthday.

Exercises

Directions: Write five sentences that have an indirect and direct object. Mark I.O above the indirect object

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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