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The Direct Object

Direct objects are nouns, pronouns, phrases, and clauses that follow transitive verbs [a type of action verb]. If you can identify the subject and verb in a sentence, then finding the direct object--if one exists--is easy. Just remember this simple formula:

  • Subject + verb + what?(who?) = the direct object

Here are examples of the formula in action

  • Zippy and Maurice played soccer in the backyard with grapefruit pulled from a tree.
      Zippy, Maurice = subjects; played = verb
      Zippy and Maurice played what? soccer = direct object
  • Zippy accidentally kicked Maurice in the shin.
      Zippy = subject; kicked = verb
      Zippy kicked who? Maurice = direct object
    Sometimes direct objects are single words like soccer and Maurice; other times they are phrases or clauses. The formula nevertheless works the same.
  • Sylina hates biting her fingernails
      Sylina = subject; hates = verb
      Sylina hates what? Biting her fingernails [gerund phrase] = direct object
  • Even worse, Sylina hates when Mom lectures her about hand care.
      Sylina = subject; hates = verb
      Sylina hates what? When Mom lectures her about hand care [subordinate clause] = direct object

    Direct objects can also follow verbals--infinitives, gerunds, and participles. Use this abbreviated version of the formula:

    • Verbal + what? who? = direct object

    Here are some examples:

  • To see magnified blood cells, Gus squinted into the microscope on the lab table.
      To see = infinitive
      To see what? Blood cells = direct object
  • Gus bought contact lenses because he wanted to see the beautiful Miranda, his lab partner, more clearly.
      To see = infinitive
      To see who? The beautiful Miranda = direct object
  • Dragging her seventy-five pound German shepherd through the door is Roseanne's least favorite part of going to the vet.
      Dragging = gerund
      Dragging what? Her seventy-five pound German shepherd = direct object
  • Heaping his plate with fried chicken, Clyde winked at Delores, the cook.
      Heaping = participle
      Heaping what? His plate = direct object
    Don't confuse direct objects and subject complements. Only action verbs can have direct objects. If the verb is linking, then the word that answers the what? or who? question is a subject complement.
  • The space alien from the planet Zortek accidentally locked his keys in his space ship.
      Alien = subject; locked = action verb
      The space alien locked what? His keys = direct object
  • The space alien was happy to find a spare key taped under the wing.
      Alien = subject; was = linking verb
      The space alien was what? Happy = subject complement
  • After giving my dog Oreo a scoop of peanut butter, she always kisses me with her sticky tongue.
      She = subject; kisses = verb
      She kisses who? Me = direct object
  • Because Jo had cut Mr. Duncan's class five times in a row, she ducked out of sight whenever she spotted him on campus.

      She = subject; spotted = verb
      She spotted who? Him = direct object

  • Because David was always eating her food, Theresa sneaked corn chips and candy bars into her room and hid them in the clothes hamper.
      Theresa = subject; hid = verb
      Theresa hid what? Them = direct object


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