3.8.2

Object of a Sentence

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Identifying the Object

The object of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that receives the action carried out by the subject. The object can also tell us who or what the subject does something to.

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Spotting the object

  • In the sentence ‘John ate cake’, ‘cake’ is the object.
    • 'Cake' is the noun that receives John’s action of eating.
  • In the sentence, ‘you understand English’, 'English' is the object.
    • 'English' is the thing that has affected the subject.
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Spotting the object 2

  • To help identify the object, ask yourself who or what the subject is doing the action to.
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Direct objects

  • A direct object is a type of object.
  • The direct object is the noun directly receiving the action of the verb.
    • E.g. in ‘John ate cake’, 'cake' is the direct object.
    • 'Cake' is the thing that the subject is eating (doing).
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Indirect objects

  • The other type of object is an indirect object.
  • The indirect object tells can tell us:
    • Who or what the noun is that benefits from the action.
    • Who or what the noun is that is the goal of the action.
  • E.g. In ‘John gave the cake to me’, 'me' is the indirect object because 'me' is who benefits from the verb (gave).
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Sentence formation

  • Sometimes the indirect object goes before the direct object.
  • E.g. ‘John gave Mary some flowers’.
    • ‘Flowers’ are the direct object because 'flowers is the object being given.
    • 'Mary' is the indirect object because she is the one who receives the object.

Jump to other topics

1Spelling

2Punctuation

3Grammar

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