What is Object in English Grammar: Definition, Types, Examples

What is object in English Grammar: Sentences are made up of five main components, these include subject, verb, object, complement and adjunct. Each component plays an important role in the formation of a sentence. One of the most common sentence structures that is followed is that of subject-verb-object (SVO). To learn more about what is an object in English grammar, its function and types then make you keep reading this blog post. 

What is Object in English Grammar? – Definition & Examples

An object in English grammar can be a noun, pronoun or even a noun phrase that receives the action done by a subject in a sentence. A basic sentence structure where the rule of subject-verb-object (SVO) is followed appears after the verb. As for the general meaning, an object can be defined as a non-living thing that can be touched or seen. 

Here are some examples of ‘object’ to give you a basic understanding of it:

• Direct object: He kicked the ball.
• Indirect object: She gave him a gift.
• Prepositional object: They talked about the movie.

Note: Not all verbs have objects. Some verbs are intransitive and do not require an object (e.g., “The baby sleeps.”).

Also Read: 23 Common Grammar Mistakes in English to Avoid From Now On

Functions of an Object

Objects when used in sentences have two key functions which we have mentioned below:

Object of a Verb

When the ‘object’ appears after the verb and is the receiver of a particular action, it is the object of a verb. This happens in sentences following structures: subject-verb-object (SVO), Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (SVIODO), Adjunct + Subject + Verb + Object (ASVO), Subject + Verb + Object + Complement (SVOC), Subject + Verb + Object + Adjunct (SVOA) and Subject + Verb + Object + Adjunct (ASVOA). 

Example:

• I ate an apple.
• She threw the ball.
• They bought a new car.
• We watched a movie.

Object of a Preposition

Just like an object is followed after a verb in a sentence, here, the object of a preposition is found after the preposition. This is part of a prepositional phrase. Take a look at the following examples.

Examples:

• He looked at the picture.
• The cat jumped onto the table.
• She walked through the park.

Also Read: 7+ English Novels to Read for a Better Vocabulary

Types of Objects in English Grammar

Now you are familiar with the basics of ‘object’ in English grammar, it is no time you understand the types of objects that are parts of English grammar. Speaking of which, objects can be classified into two main categories:

• Direct Object
• Indirect Object

Direct Object

A direct object is a noun, pronoun or simply a noun phrase that receives the action carried out by the subject. A direct object can be found immediately after a sentence’s verb (in most cases). However, exceptions always exist. Sometimes, the direct object can appear after a complement or an adjunct. 

Some of the most common sentences having ‘direct object’ are those having subject-verb-object (SVO), Subject + Verb + Object + Complement (SVOC), Subject + Verb + Object + Adjunct (SVOA) and Subject-Verb-Object-Adverbial (SVOA).

Wondering how you can look for a direct object in a sentence? Well, direct objects can be identified by asking the question ‘what’. Take a look at some of these examples to get an idea.

Examples:

• I ate an apple.
• He kicked the ball.
• She bought a new dress.

Indirect Object

An indirect object in a sentence is a noun, pronoun or noun phrase that receives what has been done or is given. In simple words, it is one that the action is directed to or performed for. To identify an indirect object, you can simply ask the question ‘for whom’ and ‘to whom’. 

Here are a few examples of indirect objects which will help you understand better:

• She gave me a book.
• He told us a story.
• I sent her a letter.

Also Read: Difference Between Psalms and Proverbs in Detail (with Examples)

9+ Examples of Objects in Sentences

Now that you have gained all the knowledge about what is object in English Grammar, it is time to look at some of the examples for both ‘direct object’ and ‘indirect object’ to get a better understanding. 

Direct Object in English grammar

• The dog chased the cat.
• She ate an apple.
• He threw the ball. 
• I read a book. 
• They watched a movie. 

Indirect object in English grammar

• I gave him a present.
• She told us a story. 
• He bought her a flower. 
• They sent me a postcard.
• I cooked them dinner.

Also Read: English Language Grammar Cheatsheet: Common Rules, Exceptions & Exercises (with PDF)

How to Place Objects in a Sentence? Examples (Download)

Here is how you can place an object in a sentence using different types of objects. We have put together this image which you can save and download for future reference while revising what is object in English Grammar.

Quiz on Object in English Grammar

In our journey to know what is object in English Grammar, let us solve some interesting questions.

Instructions: Choose the correct answer for each question.

1. In the sentence “She bought him a gift,” what is the direct object?
   • a. She
   • b. him
   • c. gift
2. In the sentence “He threw the ball,” what is the indirect object?
   • a. He
   • b. threw
   • c. ball
3. In the sentence “I sent her a letter,” what is the prepositional object?
   • a. I
   • b. her
   • c. letter
4. In the sentence “They talked about the movie,” what is the direct object?
   • a. They
   • b. talked
   • c. movie
5. In the sentence “She gave me a book,” what is the indirect object?
   • a. She
   • b. me
   • c. book

Check Your Answers:

• c) gift
• There is no indirect object in this sentence.
• There is no prepositional object in this sentence.
• There is no direct object in this sentence.
• b) me

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