The direct object of a sentence is the person or thing that is most directly affected by the action or state described by the verb. Direct object may refer to what the subject of the sentence has, or gets, or does something to, or does something with. The direct object normally follows the verb in a sentence.
Example:
- They have two sons and two daughters.
- He was reading a book.
- They built their own house.
- I don’t know them very well.
- Ratha has got $20 from his brother.
2) INDIRECT OBJECT
The indirect object of a sentence is the word or word-group that describes the person or thing that the direct object is given to or done for. The indirect object usually stands between the verb and the direct object in a sentence.
Example:
- I gave her a book.
- He bought his nephew a new bicycle.
- Can you lend him $10?
- Fetch me a bucket of water, please.
- This training offers unemployed people a chance for new jobs in this constant changing world.
NOTE:
Ø The indirect object of a sentence can usually be replaced by a group of words beginning with a preposition such as to or for:
Example:
- I gave her a book. or
- I gave a book to her.
- He bought his nephew a new bicycle. or
- He bought a new bicycle for his nephew.
Ø But in some cases this is not possible, especially with the verb give when what is given is an action rather than a thing:
Example:
- He gave his bike a clean. Not: He gave a clean to his bike.
- Can you give me a push, please? Not: Can you give a push to me, please?
