Direct Object

A direct object follows an action verb and tells who or what receives the action.

We can answer these three questions to find the direct object (D. O.) of a sentence:

  1. What is the verb in the sentence?
  2. Is it an action verb?
  3. Who or what receives the action? (direct object)

We will follow the steps above to examine these sentences:

A gardener plants bluebonnets.

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "plants."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
Bluebonnets are "planted."

Therefore, "bluebonnets" is the D. O.

Johnny repaired the computer.

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "repaired."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
The computer was "repaired."

Therefore, "computer" is the D. O.

The sphinx guards the pyramids.

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "guards."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
The pyramids are "guarded."

Therefore, "pyramids" is the D. O.

The ambassador earned an appointment.

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "earned."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
The appointment is "earned."

Therefore, "appointment" is the D. O.

Example 1

Follow the procedure above to find the direct object in each of these sentences:

  1. An armadillo crosses the road.
  2. Loud music damages the ears.
  3. The reporter photographed the sphinx.
  4. The Supreme Court may reverse a lower court's decision.

Solutions

1. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "crosses."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
The road receives the "crossing."

Therefore, "road" is the D. O.

2. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "damages."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
Ears receive the "damage."

Therefore, "ears" is the D. O.

3. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "photographed."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
The sphinx is "photographed."

Therefore, "sphinx" is the D. O.

4. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 3:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "may reverse."
Is it an action verb?
Yes.
Who or what receives the action?
Decision may be reversed.

Therefore, "decision" is the D. O.

Example 2

Answer the three questions above to find the direct object, if there is one, in each of these sentences:

  1. Austin is the capital of Texas.
  2. Dr. Livingstone was an explorer in Africa.
  3. The sphinx has been the guard at Giza.
  4. Treason is a crime against the United States.

Solutions

1. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "is."
Is it an action verb?
No. "Is" is a linking verb.

Therefore, this sentence has no D. O.

2. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "was."
Is it an action verb?
No. "Was" is a linking verb.

Therefore, this sentence has no D. O.

3. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "has been."
Is it an action verb?
No. "Has been" is a linking verb.

Therefore, this sentence has no direct object.

4. We answer the questions as follows:

QUESTION 1:
ANSWER:
QUESTION 2:
ANSWER:

What is the verb?
The verb is "is."
Is it an action verb?
No. "Is" is a linking verb.

Therefore, this sentence has no direct object.