DIRECT OBJECTS - EXPLANATION
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Name __________________
Date___________________
The direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb – directly.
It answers the questions who? or what?
Complete Subject
Predicate
Hannah and Tammy needed close friends as soon as they got into fifth grade.
The complete subject of the sentence is Hannah and Tammy.
The complete predicate of the sentence is needed close friends as soon as they got into fifth grade.
The direct object is always in the predicate, after the verb.
The verb in this sentence is needed.
Hannah and Tammy needed (what?)_______________________
They needed friends.
As you can see, “friends” is in the predicate of the sentence, after the verb.
The word “friends” is the direct object in the sentence.
Complete
Subject
Predicate
All of the students in the class must write a poem about their New Year’s resolutions.
The complete subject of the sentence is All of the students in the class.
The complete predicate of the sentence is must write a poem about their New Year’s resolutions.
The direct object is always in the predicate, after the verb.
The verb in this sentence is must write.
All of the students in the class must write (what?) ____________________
They must write poem.
As you can see, must write is in the predicate of the sentence after the verb.
The word “poem” is the direct object in the sentence.
© Ellen Gabor, 2004