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? [sometimes
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? (sometimes
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
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.
The chart below shows the differences between subject
and object pronouns. Because direct objects are objects,
always use the objective form of the pronoun.
|
Subject
Pronouns
|
Object
Pronouns
|
|
I
we
you
he, she, it
they
who
|
me
us
you
him, her, it
them
whom
|
Check out these sample sentences:
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