Direct Objects
LEARNING GOAL: Students will be able to identify direct objects. Understanding direct objects will help students when they are constructing sentences in the active and passive voice.
What is a direct object?
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb in an active sentence.
It answers the questions what? or whom? about the transitive verb.
Again, a simple direct object is only the noun or pronoun, whereas a complex direct object consists of that noun and pronoun and any modifiers that accompany it.
Examples:
Terry burnt the toast. What did terry burn? - He burnt the toast.
Serena visited Kara. Whom did Serena visit? - She visited Kara.
The direct object may also be compound.
Example: Terry burnt the toast and the eggs. What did Terry burn? - He burnt the toast and the eggs.
How else can I identify a direct object?
Another useful method for determining whether a noun or noun phrase acts as the direct object is to attempt to rephrase the sentence in the passive voice. If you can turn the sentence into the passive form, then the direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. If the noun or noun phrase is not a direct object, then the sentence will not convert into a passive form.
Examples: Active - Todd sang a song. Passive - A song was sung by Todd.
The direct object, "a song," of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive one. Ashley became a track star. "A track star" is not a direct object and thus cannot become the subject in a passive sentence. Incorrect: A track star was become by Ashley.Source:
For more on direct objects click here
Practice: Copy these sentences into your notebook (or word doc).
Instructions: Find the subjects, verbs, and direct objects in these sentences.
1. The football player changed his clothes and took a shower.
2. The speaker read his speech and answered some questions.
3. The carpenter fixed the door and painted the house.
4. The little girl played the piano and sang a song.
5. My neighbor mowed his lawn and watered the flowers.
Click here for Answers
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs:
Transitive Verbs: are verbs which take a direct object.
Intransitive Verbs: are those that don't take a direct object.
Examples:
The teacher runs. "runs" is an intransitive verb because it doesn't take a direct object
The teacher runs a well organized class. "runs" is a transitive verb because it takes a direct object (class).
Practice: Which of the following sentences contain transitive or intransitive verbs?
1. Under pressure, Sam eventually told the truth.
2. Chelsea paints beautifully and with great skill.
3. I can't tell the story without crying.
4. George took a picture of me.
Click here for Answers
Sources:
http://www.dailygrammar.com/Quiz-106-110-Direct-Object.htm
Language Power J. Toronto: Gage, 2003. Print.
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb in an active sentence.
It answers the questions what? or whom? about the transitive verb.
Again, a simple direct object is only the noun or pronoun, whereas a complex direct object consists of that noun and pronoun and any modifiers that accompany it.
Examples:
Terry burnt the toast. What did terry burn? - He burnt the toast.
Serena visited Kara. Whom did Serena visit? - She visited Kara.
The direct object may also be compound.
Example: Terry burnt the toast and the eggs. What did Terry burn? - He burnt the toast and the eggs.
How else can I identify a direct object?
Another useful method for determining whether a noun or noun phrase acts as the direct object is to attempt to rephrase the sentence in the passive voice. If you can turn the sentence into the passive form, then the direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. If the noun or noun phrase is not a direct object, then the sentence will not convert into a passive form.
Examples: Active - Todd sang a song. Passive - A song was sung by Todd.
The direct object, "a song," of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive one. Ashley became a track star. "A track star" is not a direct object and thus cannot become the subject in a passive sentence. Incorrect: A track star was become by Ashley.Source:
For more on direct objects click here
Practice: Copy these sentences into your notebook (or word doc).
Instructions: Find the subjects, verbs, and direct objects in these sentences.
1. The football player changed his clothes and took a shower.
2. The speaker read his speech and answered some questions.
3. The carpenter fixed the door and painted the house.
4. The little girl played the piano and sang a song.
5. My neighbor mowed his lawn and watered the flowers.
Click here for Answers
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs:
Transitive Verbs: are verbs which take a direct object.
Intransitive Verbs: are those that don't take a direct object.
Examples:
The teacher runs. "runs" is an intransitive verb because it doesn't take a direct object
The teacher runs a well organized class. "runs" is a transitive verb because it takes a direct object (class).
Practice: Which of the following sentences contain transitive or intransitive verbs?
1. Under pressure, Sam eventually told the truth.
2. Chelsea paints beautifully and with great skill.
3. I can't tell the story without crying.
4. George took a picture of me.
Click here for Answers
Sources:
http://www.dailygrammar.com/Quiz-106-110-Direct-Object.htm
Language Power J. Toronto: Gage, 2003. Print.