WRITING LESSON: DIRECT AND INDIRECT OBJECTS

A direct object is the thing (or person) acted on by a transitive verb. The indirect object is used most often for the recipient in verbs of giving. Examples are clearer than definitions.

"I took the paper" — the paper is the direct object, because the verb took acts on the paper; the paper is the thing that was taken. "I called her this morning" — her is the direct object, because the verb called acts on her; her is the person who was called.

"I gave him my suggestions" is a bit more complicated. Here him is an indirect object, because him isn't the thing that was given; I gave suggestions, and I gave them to him. Suggestions is the direct object, him the indirect object.