Direct objects
Direct objects are nouns, pronouns, clauses and phrases. Direct objects follow transitive verbs (action verbs that require something or someone to receive the action). You can identify the direct object by using this simple formula: subject + verb + who? or what? = DIRECT OBJECT. Try using this formula to determine the direct object as you consider the following example:
Example 1: Dennis and Susan ate omelets for breakfast.
The subject is “Dennis and Susan,” and the verb is “ate.” Next ask yourself the question “who or what?” about the verb “ate.” What did the subject, Dennis and Susan, eat? They ate omelets. Therefore, the direct object is “omelets.”
Consider the following example to find the direct object that follows a clause or phrase:
Example 2: Sophia hates when her father lectures her about her grades.
The subject is “Sophia,” and the verb is “hates.” Next ask yourself the question “who or what?” about the verb “hates.” What does the subject, Sophia, hate? She hates “when her father lectures her about her grades.” This subordinate clause (a combination of words that contain a subject and a verb, but do not form a complete sentence) is the direct object of the sentence.
Confusing direct objects with subject complements
It is easy to mistake a direct object for a subject complement. By definition, a subject complement is a clause or phrase that follows a linking verb, such as is, are or was, and complements, or completes, the subject of a sentence by describing or renaming it. It is important to note that only action verbs can have direct objects. Therefore, if the verb is a linking one, the word that answers the question “what” or “who” is a subject complement. Consider the following examples:
Example 1: The chauffeur accidentally locked his keys in his limousine.
“Chauffeur” is the subject, and “locked” is the action verb. What did the chauffeur lock? Answer: his keys, the direct object.
Example 2: The chauffeur was happy to find a spare key.
“Chauffeur” is the subject and “was” is the linking verb. The chauffeur was what? Answer: happy, the subject complement.