Parts of the Sentence Unit 3 Direct Object

Parts of the Sentence Unit 3 Direct Object, Indirect Object, Objective Complement

Complements Some simple predicates are not complete by themselves; they require complements or completers. Simple predicates that are action verbs can take three types of complements: direct objects, indirect objects, objective complements. These three types of complements are said to be in the objective case.

Direct Object The direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the simple predicate. To find the direct object, say the simple subject plus the simple predicate, and then ask whom or what. Jake slammed the ball (out of the ballpark).

Practice Finding Direct Objects 1. For 300 years, from the 8 th to the 11 th centuries, the Vikings took the world by storm. 2. They sought land, slaves, gold, and silver in areas far from their Scandinavian homelands.

3. They raided Europe and the Middle East and even reached North America. 4. Vikings often carved terrifying beasts on their ships. 5. Vikings discovered Iceland in 870. 6. They sailed the North Sea to Greenland in 985. 7. In their first raid of the British Isles, they attacked the monastery of Lindisfarne. 8. In that raid they destroyed buildings, manuscripts, and sacred objects.

Indirect Objects The indirect object is a noun or pronoun which receives the direct object. Only a few verbs in English will take an indirect object. To find the indirect object, say the simple subject plus the simple predicate plus the direct object; then, ask to whom or what or for whom or what. Hint: The indirect object will always come between the simple predicate and the direct object.

Finding the Indirect Object The pitcher quickly threw the first baseman th the ball.

Practice Finding Indirect Objects 1. The Vikings showed the world their savagery and their power. 2. The Vikings promised destruction of Anglo-Saxon Christian culture. 3. Because of their ferocity, no one could have given the Vikings a real challenge. 4. Eventually they gave Europe another layer of language and culture. 5. They made Norse languages and culture part of the civilization of Europe.

Objective Complements An objective complement is a noun or adjective that follows the direct object and renames or describes it. The committee appointed The team considered the incorrect. Bill chairperson. decision

Finding the Objective Complement To find the objective complement, say the simple subject plus the simple predicate plus the direct object and then ask what. Remember that the objective complement will always follow the direct object.

Practice Finding Objective Complements 1. People across Europe considered the Vikings frightening. 2. Vikings prized their weapons, particularly their swords, battle axes, and shields. 3. In Viking burials sites, archaeologist have found many weapons intact. 4. The archaeologists consider the Vikings a creative culture because of the artistic features of their weapons.