indirect object

noun

a word or group of words representing the person or thing with reference to which the action of a verb is performed, in English generally coming between the verb and the direct object and paraphrasable as the object of a preposition, usually to or for, following the direct object, as the boy in He gave the boy a book.

indirect object

See direct object
grammar a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase indicating the recipient or beneficiary of the action of a verb and its direct object, as John in the sentence I bought John a newspaper Compare direct object

indirect object

A noun , pronoun , or group of words naming something indirectly affected by the action of a verb : “She showed me some carpet samples”; “The agent handed the Prentice family their tickets.”

Indirect objects can often take or suggest the preposition to . For example, “He showed (to) me the book.”

First recorded in 1875–80

How does indirect object compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Indirect object: "I gave every man a trumpet;" "Give them not only noble teachings, but noble teachers."

In some languages the pronouns denoting subject, direct object and indirect object are all incorporated in the verb.

The subject, direct object, and indirect object are however easily recognised by their position in the sentence.

The subject comes first, followed by the direct object, then the indirect object if there be one, with the verb at the end.

In this sentence, him is not the indirect object of the verb, but is the object of the preposition for.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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