EXERCISE 2. IN EACH SENTENCE BELOW, FIND THE VERB (V.), THE SUBJECT (S...

5. Jonathan returned the books to the library.

V.

S.

D.O.

Lesson 8 ^{Nouns as}

Indirect Objects

How is the noun Amy used in the following sentence?

The crowd gave Amy a cheer.

S.

V.

?

D.O.

Amy is the indirect object of the verb gave.

An indirect object is a word in the predicate that tells FOR

WHOM or TO WHOM something was done, or is being done,

or will be done.

Note that there are two nouns after the action verb gave: Amy and cheer. The noun

cheer is the direct object of gave because it answers the question WHAT? (The crowd gave

WHAT?) The noun Amy tells FOR WHOM the crowd gave a cheer. Therefore, Amy is the

indirect object of the verb gave.

S.

V.

I.O.

D.O.

The above sentence shows that an action verb can have both a direct object and an

indirect object in the same sentence.

Question:

Which comes first in a sentence, the direct object or the indirect

object?

Answer:

The indirect object always comes before the direct object. Note these

further examples:

A friend sent Marilyn a card.

I.O.

D.O.

(Marilyn is the indirect object because it tells TO WHOM a friend sent

a card.)

Carlos is buying Mrs. Lopez a gift.

(Mrs. Lopez is the indirect object because it tells FOR WHOM Carlos

is buying a gift.)

The firm pays its officers a salary.

(Officers is the indirect object because it tells TO WHOM the firm

pays a salary.)