direct object

(noun)

A word that answers the question, "What is being acted upon?" In "Danielle ate fruit," fruit is a direct object of the verb ate.

Related Terms

  • aspect
  • tense-aspect-mood
  • tense
  • mood
  • verb
  • voice
  • Aspect

Examples of direct object in the following topics:

  • Nouns as Subjects and Objects

    • There are two types of object: direct and indirect.
    • In a sentence, the direct object receives the action of the subject.
    • See the italicized direct objects in the examples below:
    • (“Mathilda” is the subject and “the sandwich” is the direct object.)
    • (Answer: They are the direct object.)
  • Components of a Sentence

    • The object of a sentence is the noun or pronoun which is being acted upon, or at which the action is directed.
    • There are two types of objects: direct objects and indirect objects.
    • The direct object is the object which is being acted upon in the sentence.
    • See the italicized direct objects in the examples below:
    • The indirect object answers the questions “to whom/what?”
  • The Passive Voice

    • Until now, you have experienced mostly the active voice, in which the subject acts upon the direct object, e,g., The dog loves the family. 
  • Introduction to Verbs: Tense, Aspect, and Mood

    • Linking verbs take no direct objects.
    • Transitive verbs describe actions that are done to a specific thing, called the verb's direct object.
    • Direct object: her hair.)
    • Intransitive verbs are actions that are complete on their own, and do not require any object:
    • Just remember, if your verb has an object, make sure it's clear to the reader: Don't say "Sally kissed her" if you don't know who "her" is!
  • Introduction to Inflection

    • ., so it can be used as a direct object instead of a subject).
  • Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

    • These sentences will generally follow the pattern of subject–verb–object (or simply subject–verb, for intransitive verbs—i.e., for verbs that don't need an object):
    • That said, sentences with intransitive verbs—verbs that do not take direct objects—cannot be passivized because there is no object to put before the verb.
    • Try to put these in passive voice (in the order object–verb–subject): "[Blank] was lived by millions of people."
    • Active voice is generally more direct and neutral than passive voice.
    • The use of active voice is more direct and provides information about who performed the action.
  • Refuting Your Opposition

    • After you present the likely objections to your argument, you can show your readers why they should be willing to take your side.
    • Here, you acknowledge each objection as it's likely to arise in the reader's mind.
    • Would the statement be more direct?
    • Rather than addressing every possible objection to your thesis, you may decide at this point to eliminate the lesser objections, so as not to overload the paper with counterarguments.  
    • To be an ace arguer, you'll need to clearly state your objections to your opponent's arguments and support your objections with evidence.
  • Developing Your Voice as a Writer

    • Having a distinctive, persuasive voice is crucial to engaging your audience — without it, your paper risks falling flat, no matter how much research you've compiled or how well you've followed other directions.
    • Yes, academic writing has rules about format, style, and objectivity that you must follow, but this does not mean you can write boring, impersonal prose.
  • Declining Pronouns: Subjects and Objects

  • Pronouns as Subjects and Objects

    • Pronouns can be the subject or the object of a sentence.
    • Pronouns can act as both subjects and objects.
    • Personal object pronouns refer to one or ones who receive the action.
    • Personal object pronouns are me, you, him, her, it, us, them.
    • Therefore, they are object pronouns.
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