Download Direct Objects

Direct Objects
I hope you’re prepared for the
greatest period of English you’ve
ever had.
Direct Objects
• A direct object is a noun or pronoun that
receives the action of a transitive action
verb.
Question: How can I tell if a word is a
direct object?
Answer: You can determine if a word is
a direct object by asking Whom? or What?
after an action verb.
Direct Object Examples
-
In the following examples, the subjects
are underlined once, the action verbs are
in black font and the direct objects are
italicized. Notice how each direct object
answers the question Whom? or What?
1. The hailstorm bombarded the
picnickers.
** Ask yourself: Bombarded whom?
Answer: picnickers
Examples Cont…
• The rugby players are running the ball.
Ask yourself: Are running what?
Answer: the Ball
Give it a Shot!
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Identify the direct object in each of the
following sentences:
A YMCA instructor invented basketball in 1891.
In basketball, players put a ball through a
basket to make points.
The winning team scores the most points.
Spectators first watched basketball in the
nineteenth century.
Most states now hold championships in
basketball.
Take Note…
• Not every sentence has a direct object.
You need to ask Whom? or What? after
the verb to determine if there is a direct
object.
• For example:
1. Jenn won the match.
2. Jenn won yesterday.
- Won what? There is no answer,
so there is no direct object.
Compound Direct Objects
• A compound direct object is two or more
nouns or pronouns that receive the action
of the same verb.
• Example: We photographed the players
and the coach.
** If a sentence contains a
compound direct object, asking the
question Whom? or What? after the verb
will lead to two or more answers.