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? [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

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.

Don't use subject pronouns as direct objects.

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