English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010
Lesson 40: Indirect objects
Unit 13: Subjects and objects
Part II: Kinds of phrases
Sometimes a noun phrase is the answer to the question: ’’Who or what is receiving the direct object?’’ This noun phrase is called the indirect object. The indirect objects are underlined in the sentences below.
1. Mary gave the information to Robert.
2. She told the truth to her granddaughter.
3. They bought a car for their teenage daughter.
4. The accountant is giving a present to her husband.
So in sentence 4, for instance, the noun phrase a present is the direct object and the noun phrase her husband is the indirect object, since her husband is receiving the present, the direct object.
Quick tip 40.1
The indirect object of a sentence can be found by answering the question: ’’Who or what is receiving the direct object?’’
You can see that sentences that have indirect objects must also have direct objects, since indirect objects receive direct objects. The opposite is not true: sentences with direct objects don’t necessarily have indirect objects.
A direct object and an indirect object each follows the verb and is referred to by the term object. The term object can also refer to objects of a preposition, that is, noun phrases that follow prepositions. (See Lesson 29.)
Test yourself 40.1
Underline the indirect object in each of the sentences below.
Sample: Jane baked the cake for Grant.
Getting started (answers on p.190)
1. Holly left the plate for Luke.
2. She taught the principles to the class.
3. Big Bird is telling the story to all the children.
4. His father had bought the boat for Jonathan.
5. You will show the money to me.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Jamie’s friend sent a text message to her.
7. They bid farewell to their house guests.
8. The teenage idol is throwing a party for his fans.
9. I want to wish good luck to you.
10. My dad baked a pie for us.
Indirect objects are introduced by the preposition to or for. Some verbs, such as tell and show, use to to introduce an indirect object, while some verbs, such as buy and leave, use for.
To and for do not function only to introduce indirect objects; often, to and for have other functions. Take a look at these next sentences and notice the differences between them:
5. Mary gave the baby to Robert.
6. Mary carried the baby to the corner.
In both sentences, Mary is the subject, the doer of the action, and the baby is the direct object, the receiver of the action. In sentence 5, Robert is receiving the baby, the direct object, so Robert is the indirect object. However, in sentence 6 the corner is not receiving the baby and so it’s not the indirect object. (It’s the object of the preposition to; see Lesson 29.)
Here’s a similar pair of sentences:
7. He got a gift for his wife.
8. He got a gift for his birthday.
In both sentences, He is the subject, the doer of the action, and a gift is the direct object, the receiver of the action. In sentence 7, his wife is receiving a gift, the direct object, so his wife is the indirect object. However, in sentence 8 his birthday is not receiving a gift, so it’s not the indirect object. (It’s the object of the preposition for.)
Test yourself 40.2
For each of the sentences below, indicate whether or not to and for are being used to introduce an indirect object. Ask yourself if the noun phrase following to or for is receiving the direct object.
Getting started (answers on p. 190)
1. John worked that job for fifty years.
2. The professor is showing the problem to the student.
3. His wife and child brought fruit to him at the hospital.
4. Tom has left the company for another job.
5. The visiting king thanked the president for his hospitality. More practice (answers on the website)
6. She sent the e-mail to her sister.
7. We will remember this general for his heroism.
8. I have forwarded your message to your mother.
9. He took his friend to the theater.
10. The Black family took a ride to the countryside.
Here are sentences 1-4 again, but this time with a ’’partner” sentence:
9a. Mary gave the information to Robert.
9b. Mary gave Robert the information.
10a. She told the truth to her granddaughter.
10b. She told her granddaughter the truth.
11a. They bought a car for their teenage daughter.
11b. They bought their teenage daughter a car.
12a. The accountant is giving a present to him.
12b. The accountant is giving him a present.
You can see that in the second sentence of each pair, the indirect object has moved so that it comes before the direct object, rather than after it. English gives us two choices for the position of indirect objects: (a) the indirect object can occur after the direct object (which follows the verb), with to or for introducing it, or (b) the indirect object can occur before the direct object (and after the verb), without to or for.
Quick tip 40.2
An indirect object can occur: (a) after the direct object (which follows the verb), with to or for introducing it, or (b) before the direct object (and after the verb), without to or for.
For example: Joan gave a present to Bill or Joan gave Bill a present. (Bill is the indirect object in both sentences.)
Quick tip 40.3
To help you decide if a sentence has an indirect object, see if the sentence can be changed from a pattern like The boys left a note for their teacher to a sentence with a pattern like The boys left their teacher a note, or vice versa.
Note that when the direct object is a pronoun, the two patterns are not both possible, as you can see in these next sentence pairs:
13a. Her best friend bought it for her family.
13b. *Her best friend bought her family it.
14a. Lucy sold them to her neighbor.
14b. *Lucy sold her neighbor them.
That is, when the direct object is a pronoun, it must come before the indirect object.
Quick tip 40.4
If the direct object is a pronoun, it must come before the indirect object. Example: My sister sent it to her friend, * My sister sent her friend it.
Test yourself 40.3
Each sentence below contains an indirect object, which is underlined. Change each sentence to the other pattern, by moving the indirect object and either deleting or adding to or for.
Sample: Sally made us breakfast. Sally made breakfast for us.
Getting started (answers on p. 191)
1. The principal might show the film to her students.
2. Mrs. Hausen sent the company her check.
3. We bought the house for our parents.
4. The referee threw me the ball.
5. The artist is drawing a sketch for her patron.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. I am saving this seat for my father.
7. My colleague did me a favor.
8. Albert passed his friend a note.
9. She will read her children a poem.
10. The boss wished much success to his new employee.
Test yourself 40.4
Each sentence below contains an indirect object (not underlined). Change each sentence to the other pattern, by moving the indirect object and either deleting or adding to or for.
Sample: Steve gave Mary a package. Steve gave a package to Mary.
Getting started (answers on p. 191)
1. He will send the poem to his fiancee.
2. The professor is e-mailing the students his comments.
3. That company built a ship for the navy.
4. She drew a picture for her son.
5. Amanda’s friend was throwing a party for her.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. I sang a lullaby to you.
7. The company’s president had shipped the order to them.
8. The librarian found George a good book.
9. The arresting officer must read his rights to him.
10. My aunt baked me my favorite dessert.
Test yourself 40.5
Underline the indirect object in each sentence below. It can occur either before or after the direct object.
Sample: Jerry made me that bench.
Getting started (answers on p. 191)
1. We found a dress for her.
2. Mr. Duquesne has brought him the plans.
3. The old hunter told us the story.
4. The instructor is ordering this book for the students in his class.
5. I never promised you a rose garden.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. The contractor will build a brand new deck for me.
7. Can’t she give him a straight answer?
8. The realtor showed them a lovely house.
9. The economist had painted a rosy picture for his audience.
10. I got you a small present.
Test yourself 40.6
For each sentence below, underline the direct object and put a squiggly line under the indirect object, if there is one. Remember, the indirect object can occur either before or after the direct object.
Getting started (answers on p. 191)
1. The children gave the teacher an apple.
2. I brought this for you.
3. The two men clasped hands.
4. This treaty will benefit all mankind.
5. She is telling the reporter the truth.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Don’t give me that!
7. We have to return this to the store.
8. At the meeting, he showed us his true colors.
9. People have been telling this story for ages.
10. I bid all of you good night.