Direct Object

The direct object usually follows the main verb (when this verb is an action verb) in the sentence. It is usually the recipient of the action initiated by the subject.

The easiest way to identify the direct object is by seeing what word(s) answer the question "what?" after the main verb. For example,

main verb what?

The direct object can be a stand-alone noun:

The teething baby bit the turtle's tail.

bit what? the tail (of the turtle--turtle's is an adjective that describes tail)

The direct object can be a gerund phrase:

The girl in the front row doesn't care about my imagining her as a fire eater.

doesn't care about what? [my] imagining her as a fire eater (my is an adjective that describes "imagining her as a fire eater").

The direct object can be a noun clause:

The milkman decided that the face of the boy on the bike looked like a drainpipe.

decided what? that the face of the boy on the bike looked like a drainpipe.


Note: Not all action verbs take direct objects. Some verbs like "lie" don't take a direct object; whereas, "lay" does.

The lion lies on the floor.

lies what? this doesn't make sense

The lion lays his paw on the back of the lioness.

lays what? [his] paw