English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010
Lesson 39: Direct objects
Unit 13: Subjects and objects
Part II: Kinds of phrases
As we saw in Lesson 38, a noun phrase can function as the subject of a sentence. A noun phrase can also have other functions. For example, a noun phrase may be 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. (We discuss a different pattern in Lesson 40.)
Quick tip 39.1
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.
Test yourself 39.1
Underline the direct object in each of the sentences below. Be sure to ask yourself who or what is being acted upon or receiving the action.
Sample: I saw a statue in the museum.
Getting started (answers on p.189)
1. You must include all relevant facts.
2. Bridget is asking numerous questions.
3. The Spanish ships needed fresh supplies.
4. She will watch the baby.
5. The townspeople have wanted tax relief for years.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Most people greeted us warmly at the reception.
7. I bought two bottles of Pepsi.
8. Actors must memorize their lines.
9. Last week, Jack renewed his passport.
10. Where did you get that sweater?
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, from Lesson 10, 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 (Lesson 29). 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.
Test yourself 39.2
Decide whether or not each sentence below has a direct object.
Getting started (answers on p. 190)
1. We’ll discuss each argument.
2. Carter worked for a lumber company.
3. Those gamblers are losing their money.
4. At 7 p.m. we left for the theater.
5. The children are enjoying Disneyland.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. I slept well last night.
7. They watch football on Sunday nights.
8. Jill and Sam have left with a friend.
9. Can you pass the butter, please?
10. She wants a big scoop of chocolate ice cream.
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 Lesson 9). 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.
Test yourself 39.3
Decide if the underlined phrase in each sentence below is a direct object or a verb complement. To make this decision, you can: (1)ask yourself if something or someone is being acted upon, and /or (2)decide if the verb is an action or linking verb.
Sample: Bill became a member of the President’s cabinet. verb complement
Getting started (answers on p.190)
1. Gerald has taken that course.
2. Rob used this technique in his restaurant.
3. Adam might withdraw his resignation.
4. The mayor is sounding confident.
5. We quickly got ready.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. He was getting a pastrami sandwich in the deli.
7. She loves her new car
8. We were best friends in high school.
9. I’ll take you to the movies.
10. He feels foolish.
Test yourself 39.4
Underline the direct objects in the sentences below. Not all sentences will have a direct object. Sample: I put the letter in his mailbox.
Getting started (answers on p.190)
1. Our discussion was highly entertaining.
2. He had a growing family.
3. She quickly got indignant.
4. You must be the new baby sitter.
5. The sheriff arrested a suspect in the fraud investigation.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. The coach of the University of Texas football team is replacing his quarterback.
7. They walked in the woods till sunset.
8. I proposed some tentative solutions.
9. He confessed on the second day of the trial.
10. Our plane had left on time.
Test yourself 39.5
Underline the subjects and put a squiggly line under the direct objects in the sentences below.
Getting started (answers on p. 190)
1. The soldiers fired their weapons.
2. A talented designer made that hat.
3. She had married her next-door neighbor.
4. Maria was watching her favorite soap opera.
5. These people really irritate me.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Sonya has found the directions to the party.
7. He added salt to his soup.
8. The contestant had to make a di/cult decision.
9. Rhonda is expecting her third child.
10. Last week, Martin’s friends bought a present for his birthday.