The direct object is the noun that receives the action of the transitive verb.

Typically, a direct object follows the verb and can be found by asking who or what received the action of the verb.

[In the following examples, the direct object is bold and the verb is underlined.]

• After dinner, Matthew always serves a cake.
  • To determine the direct object, ask whom or what was acted on by the verb.
    
    
• To the average citizen, politics offers considerable frustration.
  • Although the direct object follows the verb, an adjective may be between the verb and object.
    
    
• Christine discovered a pile of books hidden under the staircase.
  • Look for the object that receives the action of the verb, and don't be fooled by the object of a preposition such as BOOKS in this sentence.
    
    
• After class, Randall will carry the students' papers to his office.
  • Once you identify the verb, ask whether the verb was done to someone or something. e.g. Will Randall carry someone or something? Yes, he will carry PAPERS. Therefore, PAPERS receives the action of the verb.
    
    
• The police have arrested the man who committed the robberies.
  
  • Identify the subject, find the verb the subject is engaged in, determine if it is an action verb and then ask who or what is receiving the action.
    
    

In some cases the direct object may follow the indirect object.

[In the following examples, the direct object is bold and the indirect object is underlined.]

• During the play's intermission, Alice gave Tracy her coat to hold.
  • The object receiving the action of the verb—in other words the object that ALICE GAVE—is COAT, making it the direct object. TRACY received the direct object, making her the indirect object.
    
    
• Stephen offered his brother a chance to win a million dollars.
  • To determine the direct object find the verb and ask who or what the verb acted upon.
    
    
• The director assigned the team a project that everyone else had refused.
  • To find the direct object ask what or whom about the subject and verb. The director assigned WHAT? A project.
    
    
• After the marathon, race organizers furnished the participants a banana, a bottle of water and a t-shirt.
  • More than one word can receive the action of the verb.
    
    
• The detective showed the witness a picture of a possible suspect in the assault.
  
  • What did the detective show? Not the witness. The detective showed A PICTURE to the witness.
    
    

In some cases the direct object is an entire clause.
Rather than a single word receiving the action of the verb, an entire clause receives the action.

[In the following examples, the direct object is bold and the verb is underlined.]

• When questioned by police, Evan admitted he took the bicycle.
  • What Evan admitted is that he took the bicycle.
    
    
• On the way to the doctor's office, the child pretended she was not sick.
  • When you ask the question: The child pretended WHAT? the entire clause is the answer. SHE WAS NOT SICK.
    
    
• A government official reported that agency funding would be cut by 25 percent.
  • To find the direct object ask what or whom about the subject and verb. The official reported WHAT? That agency funding would be cut by 25 percent.
    
    
• Most Americans believe burning the flag should not be illegal.
  • What do Americans believe? Burning the flag should not be illegal.
    
    
• Although he is tired, Dexter said he will plant the garden for you.
  
  • What did Dexter say? He will plant the garden for you.
    

To begin studying indirect objects, please go to the next page.