Object in English grammar

Objects are parts of sentences that every learner should understand to master English. They add more detail and complexity to a sentence.

What is an Object?

An object is simply a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun in a sentence that is affected by a verb or a preposition.

Types of Objects

There are three main types of objects in English grammar:

1. Direct Object

2. Indirect Object

3. Object of a Preposition

Direct Object

A direct object is the thing, person, or event that receives the action of the verb. In a basic sentence structure, the subject performs an action, and the direct object receives that action.

Examples

Sam loves Mary.

• The verb "loves" acts on the direct object "Mary."

I appreciate this purse a lot.

• The subject pronoun "I" performs the action "appreciate."

• The noun "purse" is the direct object.

Direct objects can also follow phrasal verbs:

My sister threw away my old gym clothes.

• The phrasal verb "threw away" has the direct object "my old gym clothes."

Indirect Object

An indirect object is the recipient of the action, unlike the direct object, which receives the action itself.

Example

Send me your location so that I can meet you there.

This sentence contains two clauses.

1. Send me your location.

   • The direct object is "your location."

   • The indirect object is "me" because I am the recipient of what is being sent.

2. So that I can meet you there.

   • Here, "you" is a direct object.

   • There is no indirect object in this clause.

Object of a Preposition

An object of a preposition is a noun or pronoun that follows and is governed by a preposition.

Example

He's the best among us.

• "Among" is the preposition.

• "Us" is the object of the preposition.

The phrase "among us" is a prepositional phrase:

• among = preposition

• us = object of the preposition (also called a prepositional pronoun)

Objects in Active and Passive Voice

Objects can appear in both active and passive sentences.

Example

Active Voice:
Sam bought a new perfume.

Passive Voice:
A new perfume was bought by Sam.

In the active sentence, "a new perfume" is the direct object. When the sentence is changed into the passive voice, the direct object becomes the subject of the passive sentence. This process is called passivization.