An English challenge: Identifying Direct Objects - Part 2A - Simple Nouns and Pronouns
Identifying direct objects
A direct object will follow a transitive verb. Direct objects can be nouns, proper nouns (names), pronouns, phrases, or clauses. If you can identify the subject and verb in a sentence, then finding the direct object—if one exists—is easy. Just remember this simple formula:
Subject + verb + what? or who? = direct object
A simple direct object is only the noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb or shows the result of the action. It answers the question what? or whom? about the transitive verb.
I. SIMPLE NOUNS AS A DIRECT OBJECT
Examples: (The direct objects are in bold.)
1. The farmer grows potatoes.
2. Jenna brings Mrs. Smith lunch every day.
Q1: Indicate the direct object(s).
----- 1. Elvis sang ballads.
----- 2. Serena visited Kara.
----- 3. The woman has always hated mice.
----- 4. I sometimes give my cat fish.
----- 5. Martha often drinks milk.
----- 6. I am giving money to my roommate for a gift.
----- 7. Lucy is cooking dinner for me.
----- 8. Liz and Sarah are showing photos to you and me.
----- 9. I like pumpkins.
II. PRONOUNS
The object pronouns in English are: me, you, him, her, it, us, you (all) and them.
Examples: (The direct objects are in bold.)
1. She is looking at him.
2. I picked up the book. I looked at it and decided to buy it.
Q2: Indicate the direct object (simple pronoun).
----- 1. Bless me!
----- 2. Call him if you have questions.
----- 3. Mrs. Smith called her.
----- 4. No, we are looking at them.
----- 5. I am giving it to him.
----- 6. They are showing them to us.
----- 7. After I gave my dog Winky a scoop of ice cream, she kissed me.
----- 8. Because Marianne was always eating his snacks, Ian hid them in the guest room.
----- 9. I will ask him later.
----- 10. They are showing us them.
1 Answer
Q1: Indicate the direct object(s).
ballads 1. Elvis sang ballads.
Kara 2. Serena visited Kara.
mice 3. The woman has always hated mice.
fish 4. I sometimes give my cat fish.
milk 5. Martha often drinks milk.
money 6. I am giving money to my roommate for a gift.
dinner 7. Lucy is cooking dinner for me.
photos - 8. Liz and Sarah are showing photos to you and me.
pumpkins 9. I like pumpkins.
Q2: Indicate the direct object (simple pronoun).
me 1. Bless me!
him 2. Call him if you have questions.
her 3. Mrs. Smith called her.
them 4. No, we are looking at them.
it 5. I am giving it to him.
them 6. They are showing them to us.
me 7. After I gave my dog Winky a scoop of ice cream, she kissed me.
them 8. Because Marianne was always eating his snacks, Ian hid them in the guest room.
him 9. I will ask him later.
them 10. They are showing us them.
