Object Nouns in a Sentence

In English sentences, a noun can be the main subject of the sentence or clause, or it can be an object, which is to say it is not the subject. The subject noun is the noun performing the verb.

This post looks at the objects in a sentence: the direct object, the indirect object and the prepositional object.

The direct object

The direct object is the noun that is receiving the action of the verb.

Here are five examples of a direct object (highlighted together with its determiner):

1. She gave a gift.
2. The teacher read a story.
3. I wrote a letter.
4. They sent an invitation.
5. We baked some biscuits.

The indirect object

The following sentences are expansions on the previous sentences. An indirect object has been added that is associated with the action and the direct object.

1. She gave her friend a gift.
   • Indirect Object: her friend (to whom the gift was given)
   • Direct Object: a gift
2. The teacher read the students a story.
   • Indirect Object: the students (to whom the story was read)
   • Direct Object: a story
3. I wrote my brother a letter.
   • Indirect Object: my brother (for whom the letter was written)
   • Direct Object: a letter
4. They sent their parents an invitation.
   • Indirect Object: their parents (to whom the invitation was sent)
   • Direct Object: an invitation
5. We baked our neighbours some biscuits.
   • Indirect Object: our neighbours (for whom the biscuits were baked)
   • Direct Object: some biscuits

An indirect objects is not the recipient of the action. Notice that a sentence with an indirect object is without a preposition. However, these sentences can be rearranged to the structure below.

The prepositional object

1. She gave a gift to her friend.
2. The teacher read a story to the students.
3. I wrote a letter to my brother.
4. They sent an invitation to their parents.
5. We baked some biscuits for our neighbours.

In the above examples, the indirect objects have been removed from their place directly after the verb to be part of a prepositional phrase at the end of the sentence. The object now follows a preposition and is therefore a prepositional object while the direct object of the verb remains the direct object of the verb.

Here are five more examples of sentences that contain both a direct object and a prepositional object:

1. She placed the book on the table.
   • Direct Object: the book (what was placed?)
   • Prepositional Object: the table (object of the preposition on)
2. He threw the ball to his teammate.
   • Direct Object: the ball (what was thrown?)
   • Prepositional Object: his teammate (object of the preposition to)
3. The chef served the meal with a smile.
   • Direct Object: the meal (what was served?)
   • Prepositional Object: a smile (object of the preposition with)
4. I wrote a letter to the editor.
   • Direct Object: a letter (what was written?)
   • Prepositional Object: the editor (object of the preposition to)
5. They built a bridge over the river.
   • Direct Object: a bridge (what was built?)
   • Prepositional Object: the river (object of the preposition over)

What is a Prepositional Object?

A prepositional object is the noun or pronoun that follows a preposition, completing the meaning of the prepositional phrase. To identify it:

1. Look for a preposition in the sentence (e.g., onto, about, through, to, over).
2. Find the noun or pronoun that answers the question “what?” or “whom?” following the preposition.

Note that a prepositional object can also appear in a sentence that has no direct object:

1. She sat on a chair.
2. He listens to music.
3. They walked through the park.

The above examples are prepositional phrases that follow the subject and verb of the sentence and function as an adverbial phrase or complement.

Locative phrases

Prepositional objects in locative phrases cannot be moved from their position to become indirect objects:

• I put the book on the floor.
• I open the door for my daughter.
• I ask my student for her homework.
• I wrote a book about a hero.

The sentence “I put the book on the floor” cannot be rearranged in the same way as “I sent him a letter” because the prepositional phrase (“on the floor”) functions as a locative phrase, not an indirect object.

In sentences such as “I put the book on the floor”, the direct object “the book” and the prepositional phrase “on the floor” are not interchangeable as in the “sent” example. The structure “I put a book on the floor” is grammatically correct, but one cannot swap the roles of the direct object and prepositional object in the same way as with a sentence like “I sent a letter to him”. This is because there would be no clear logic without the relevant preposition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the grammatical terms used for objects in a sentence are connected to the grammatical construction and word order of a sentence:

1. He threw the ball to his teammate. = direct object and prepositional object
2. He threw his teammate the ball. = indirect object and direct object

A prepositional object can be moved between the verb and the direct object to become an indirect object as long as the prepositional object does not belong to a locative phrase.

If you have any questions, please do comment below.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Burton-Roberts, Noel. Analysing Sentences: An Introduction to English Syntax, 4^th edn (Routledge, 2016)

Crystal, David. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, 3rd edn (Cambridge University Press, 2019)

Dreyer, Benjamin. Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Penguin Random House, 2020)

Gwynne, N. M. Gwynne’s Grammar: The Ultimate Introduction to Grammar and the Writing of Good English (Ebury Press/Random House, 2013)

Hewings, Martin, and others. Cambridge English Grammar and Vocabulary for Advanced (Cambridge University Press, 2015)

Huddleston, Rodney, and others. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (Cambridge University Press, 2002)

Lightbown, Patsy M., and others. How Languages are Learned, 4^th edn (Oxford University Press, 2020)

Parrott, Martin. Grammar for English Language Teachers, 2nd edn (Cambridge University Press, 2011)

Pinker, Steven. Words and Rules (W&N/ Science Masters, 2001)

Plag, Ingo, and others. Introduction to English Linguistics (Mouton de Gruyter, 2007)

Quirk, Randolph, and others. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, reprint edn (Pearson, 2011)

Seely, John. Oxford A – Z of Grammar & Punctuation (Oxford University Press, 2020)

Thorne, Sarah. Advanced English Language, 2nd edn (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008)

Woodroof, David K. Quotations, Commas and Other Things English, instructor’s reference edn (iUniverse, Inc, 2007)

Yates Ph.D., Jean. Prepositions, 3^rd edn (Barron’s Education, 2020)

New Hart’s Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors (Oxford University Press, 2005)

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english