Ch. 13: Sentence
Diagramming
Direct and Indirect Objects
Sentence Diagramming Review:

Every sentence diagram begins by
identifying the subject and the verb or
verb phrase.
Example 1: The pitcher hurled the ball.
pitcher
subject - noun
hurled
verb
Example 2: The catcher was waiting for the pitch
catcher
subject - noun
was waiting
verb phrase
So What is a Direct Object?
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A Direct Object is:
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A NOUN or PRONOUN
Follows an ACTION verb
Receives the action of the verb
Answers the question Whom or What?
Examples:
1. The Astros won the game.
action verb
direct object
2. The White Sox beat the Angels.
action verb
direct object
Diagramming Direct Objects:
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A DIRECT OBJECT is a very important part of
the sentence, so it goes on the baseline, next to
the verb.
A DIRECT OBJECT is part of the PREDICATE so
it must go to the right of the dividing line.
A DIRECT OBJECT is separated from the verb by
another vertical line.
Example: Albert Pujols smacked the ball.
Albert Pujols
subject
smacked
verb
ball
direct object
More Direct Object Examples:
1. The Cardinals won the World Series.
Cardinals
won
World Series
subject
action verb
direct object
kissed
fan
action verb
direct object
2. Fredbird kissed the fan.
Fredbird
subject
3. The vendor sold fifty sodas.
vendor
sold
subject
action verb
sodas
direct object
More Direct Object Examples:
1. Jason ate pizza and wings.
subject
ate
action verb
direct object
and
Jason
pizza
wings
direct object
2. Jason ate Dominos pizza and spicy, hot wings.
pizza
subject
ate
action verb
and
Jason
direct object
wings
direct object
So What is an Indirect Object?
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An Indirect Object is:
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A NOUN or PRONOUN
Follows an ACTION verb is before the DIRECT
OBJECT
Is NOT in a preposition phrase
Answers the question to/for whom or to/for
what?
Example:
1. Jane gave Tom the letter.
action verb Indirect
object
direct object
Diagramming Indirect Objects:
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An INDIRECT OBJECT always goes under the
verb in a construction similar to a prepositional
phrase.
An INDIRECT OBJECT is always a part of the
PREDICATE.
Example: Trevor cooked his mother a meal.
Trevor
subject
cooked
meal
verb
direct object
mother
Leave this line blank!
indirect
object
More Indirect Object Examples:
1. Could you show him the pavilion?
you
subject
Could show
action verb
pavilion
direct object
him
indirect
object
2. Buy Mary and Tom a toy!
(you)
subject
Buy
action verb
toy
direct object
Mary
and
indirect object
Tom
indirect object
Let’s Review:
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A DIRECT OBJECT is a noun or pronoun.
A DIRECT OBJECT always follows an action verb.
A DIRECT OBJECT answers the question who or
what?
An INDIRECT OBJECT is always a noun or a
pronoun.
An INDIRECT OBJECT answers the question to/for
whom or to/for what?
An INDIRECT OBJECT follows an action verb and is
before the DIRECT OBJECT.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT OBJECTS are NOT found
in a preposition phrase.