Direct objects

As we saw, a noun phrase can function as the subject of a sentence. A noun phrase can also have other functions. For example, a noun phrase maybe acted upon by the subject and follow the verb. These noun phrases are called direct objects. The direct objects in the sentences below are underlined:

1. John baked a cake.

2. Leah had visualized a simple room.

3. She is buying a small studio apartment.

4. My niece rented a movie last night.

How can you tell which noun phrase in a sentence functions as the direct object? In general, the direct object is the answer to the questions: ‘‘Who or what is being acted upon?

Who or what is receiving the action? ’’Thus, for example, in the sentence My niece rented a movie last night, the direct object is a movie, since a movie is what is being acted upon (being rented). Typically, direct objects occur immediately after the verb.

Quick tip

The direct object of a sentence is receiving the action. It can usually be found by answering the question: ‘‘Who or what is being acted upon or receiving the action?’’ The direct object typically occurs immediately after the verb.

Answers

Not all sentences have direct objects. Here are examples of sentences with action verbs that do not have direct objects.

5. My friend laughed loudly.

6. Mr. Thomas slept well.

7. You’re always worrying.

You may remember, that there are transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive verbs, like bake or rent, act on something or someone and so they have direct objects. Intransitive verbs, like laugh, sleep, and worry, aren’t acting upon something or someone and so don’t have direct objects.

What about these next sentences?

8. My friend stopped at the grocery store.

9. Mr. Thomas slept well during the night.

10. You’re always worrying about something.

As you can see, these sentences have prepositional phrases, which are underlined. A prepositional phrase is not a direct object. For example, at the grocery store in sentence 8 and during the night in sentence 9 are not being acted upon.

To sum up, only transitive action verbs have direct objects, and prepositional phrases are not direct objects.

Answers

What about this next sentence?

11. She is a doctor.

Is a doctor receiving the action of is? Kind of a strange question, isn’t it? That’s because is is not an action verb; it’s a linking verb (see Action verbs and linking verbs). Sentences with linking verbs don’t have direct objects, since there is no action happening in the sentence. In each sentence below, the linking verb is italicized. The underlined portion of each sentence is not a direct object, since it’s not being acted upon. Instead, it’s called the verb complement.

12.My teacher resembles Tom Cruise.

13.That dinner was delicious.

14.Her husband became a lawyer.

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مواضيع ذات صلة

Grammatical Relations Subjects and objects

Form, meaning, and use Conclusion

Grammar as a system of rules

Analyzing Grammar Grammatical form Form, meaning, and use

Implied subjects: commands

Indirect objects

Subjects

SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS

Tense

Progressive be

Perfect have

Modals