Do you know what an indirect object is? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on indirect objects, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Collins English Dictionary, an indirect object in English grammar is an object that is used with a transitive verb. An indirect object indicates who gets something or benefits from an action that is taken in the sentence. These often use transitive and linking verbs which link the subject of the sentence to further information, which is known as the subject complement. These linking verbs are below:
seem
has been
are
were
am
have been
become
is
was
Indirect objects do not directly receive the action of the verb, hence their name. If what appears to be an indirect object occurs within a prepositional phrase, it is the object of a preposition, not an indirect object, which can be confusing. The recipient of the direct object or receivers of the direct object pronoun is another way to describe an indirect object. These are also used in Spanish and French, in which verbs end in ar, er, ir, and dre according to UVIC. In these languages, the indirect object pronouns are le, les, la, ella, ellos, ellas, los, and el. Indirect objects are never used with intransitive verbs, as are any types of objects.
Many different languages also contain words that mean indirect object. You may notice that some of these translations of indirect object look and sound similar to one another. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases in different languages that likely have the same root or language of origin, causing them to sound the same. The below list of translations of indirect object is provided by Word Sense.
A indirect object can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or literary technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of indirect object that can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use. Take a look at the following sentences of indirect object examples and see how many you can identify the indirect object in!
Ella baked a cake and cookies for Marias.
You rode a long way to get to Jamie’s house in time for the surprise party.
Jim bought Jeff a diamond ring.
Katie brought invitations written on a postcard to her soccer team.
I crafted a beautiful centerpiece of fresh flowers for my family’s Thanksgiving dinner.
Tim and Phillip threw a party for José, María, and Susan.
Sarah made a copy of her notes from the day’s classes for Millie, who was out sick that day.
What are other literary techniques and devices?
There are many different literary and grammatical techniques and devices that you might see when you are reading prose or poetry. It is important to recognize these terms because they are always used for some purpose. Knowing these devices can help readers understand the author’s deeper meaning and why they are using such a device. Take a look at the below list of grammatical devices from OED and see how many you know! Then try researching ones that are unfamiliar to you.
Overall, an indirect object is an object that benefits or gets something from the action taken in a sentence, but is not the direct recipient of the action. These often used transitive and linking verbs. These cannot be used with an intransitive verb.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
December 16, 2021
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