Moran Lit and Comp

Indirect Objects

An indirect object typically comes just before the direct object and does not follow a preposition. The
indirect object can be discovered by asking the questions TO WHOM OR WHAT? or FOR WHOM OR
WHAT? after the verb. If it answers these questions but follows a preposition, it is an object of the
preposition and not the indirect object (though it functions the same).

I baked my dad a beautiful birthday cake.

→cake is the direct object
→dad is the indirect object

I baked a beautiful birthday cake for my dad.

→cake is the direct object
→dad is the object of the preposition, though the function is no different

The Red Sox pay David Ortiz way too much money.
→What is the direct object?
→What is the indirect object?

In chapter two of LotF, find five sentences that include a direct object and an indirect object. Write the
sentence (or the full independent clause that you are considering) and identify the transitive verb, the
direct object, and the indirect object.

Sentence: __________________________________________________________________.
TV: _________________
DO: _________________
IO: _________________

Sentence: __________________________________________________________________.
TV: _________________
DO: _________________
IO: _________________

Sentence: __________________________________________________________________.
TV: _________________
DO: _________________
IO: _________________

Sentence: __________________________________________________________________.
TV: _________________
DO: _________________
IO: _________________

Sentence: __________________________________________________________________.
TV: _________________
DO: _________________
IO: _________________