Objective Nouns

A noun is in the objective case when it is used as a direct object, an indirect object, or the object of a preposition. Let's review these "objects" (objective nouns).

Direct Object

A noun or pronoun is called a direct object when it is the direct receiver of the action of the verb. Direct objects (objective nouns) are starred in the sentences below.

  • Rigo made *lunch. (Rigo made what?)
  • I picked *cotton.
  • Who will prepare *dinner?
  • Davy Crockett helped *Andrew Jackson. (Davy helped who or what?)
  • Defending the Alamo cost Davy's *life.
  • The Crockett Almanacs contained tall *tales about Davy.
  • He liked *to hunt. (Infinitive as a direct object)
  • Do you enjoy *skydiving? (Gerund as a direct object)
  • Roger Sherman despised mob *rule. (Roger Sherman despised who or what?)
  • Therefore, he issued a *warrant against Benedict Arnold.
  • In addition, he outlawed *scapegoating. (Gerund as a direct object)

Indirect Object

An indirect object is the noun or pronoun that tells "to whom" or "for whom" the action was done. In the following examples, the indirect objects are starred.

  • Did you bring *Fido a snack? (Did you bring a snack for Fido?)
  • The runner passed *Tim the baton. (The runner passed the baton to Tim.)
  • Please send *Kristina a postcard. (Please send a postcard to Kristina.)
  • Have you told *me everything? (Have you told everything to me?)
  • Politicians gave *Davy recognition. (Politicians gave recognition to Davy.)
  • Yale awarded *Sherman an honorary degree. (Yale awarded an honorary degree to Sherman.)

Object of a Preposition

A noun or pronoun that follows a preposition is called the object of a preposition. Objects of the prepositions are starred in the examples below.

  • at the *museum
  • around the *lake
  • near *her
  • through the *gate
  • within two *months
  • on top of the *hill
  • except for *swimming
  • over the *top
  • besides *him
  • after the *show
  • except *you
  • on account of *illness
  • outside of the *country
  • under the *influence

Examples

Identify objective nouns. For sentences, 1-9, tell whether each italicized noun is a direct object, an indirect object, or the object of a preposition.

  1. Esther fried Marissa an egg.
  2. I sweep the sidewalk on Mondays.
  3. Justin fell off the chair.
  4. The squirrel climbed up the tree.
  5. Our cousin painted his house bright green.
  6. The title of her essay refers to her experiences in Colombia.
  7. After 1773, Sherman offered the British strong resistance.
  8. In the late 1760s, almanacs had recorded his Loyalism.
  9. The Parliament of Great Britain should not make America's laws.

Solutions

  1. Marissa is an indirect object. It tells "for whom" the egg was fried.
  2. Sidewalk is a direct object. It is the receiver of the action verb "sweep."
  3. Chair is the object of the preposition "off."
  4. Tree is the object of the preposition "up."
  5. House is a direct object. It is the receiver of the action verb "painted."
  6. Experiences is the object of the preposition "to."
  7. British is an indirect object. It tells "to whom" the resistance was offered.)
  8. Loyalism is a direct object. It is the receiver of the action verb "had recorded."
  9. Great Britain is the object of the preposition "of."