Direct and

Indirect Objects
Grade 4
 Essential Questions
1.How do I find the direct object of a
sentence?
2.How do I find the indirect object of a
sentence?
 Direct Object

■ Direct objects receive the action of

the verb….the ACTION VERB
■ In order to have a direct object, there
must be an “action” verb in the sentence.
■ You may have a direct object without an
indirect object.
 Examples:

■ The girl slugged the ball.

■ slugged is the action verb

■ What did she slug?
■ The ball! Ball is the direct object.
 Find the direct object:

Some children flew kites at a park.

The chef baked delicious pies for the

party.
 Find the Direct Object

Some children flew kites at a park.

The chef baked delicious pies for

the party.
 Compound direct objects
■ A sentence may contain a compound direct
object. This means there are two or more
direct objects in the sentence.

Example: They put bags and materials in

their cubby holes.
Put is the action verb.
Put what? bags and materials
 Indirect objects
■ The indirect object is the receiver of some direct
objects.

■ Indirect objects follow an action verb.

■ Indirect objects will usually be before the direct

object.

■ You may not have an indirect object without a

direct object. So, if your sentence has an indirect
object, it also has a direct object.
 Indirect objects
■ Example:
■ He handed the clerk the money.

■ Handed is the action verb.

■ Handed what? money (direct object)

■ To whom? Clerk (indirect object)

 Indirect Objects
■ You should be able to insert to or for mentally in
front of the indirect object.
■ The hotel clerk handed the guest his key. Handed
what? Key (DO)
■ To whom ? Guest (IO)
■ The hotel clerk handed (TO) the guest his key.
(insert to or for mentally to help double check and
find the indirect objects)
 Find the indirect objects…
■ The florist delivered Hannah flowers.

■ The waitress handed the customer his ticket.

 Find the Indirect Object
■ The florist delivered Hannah flowers.

■ The waitress handed the customer his

ticket.
 Find the Indirect Object
■ Mom cooked dinner for us.

■ He delivered the mail to Jessica.

 Find the Indirect Object
■ Mom cooked dinner for us.

■ He delivered the mail to Jessica.

 Compound indirect objects
■ Some sentences may contain compound indirect
objects.

■ Example:
Ty’s mother made Ginger and her brother some
fudge.
(DO is fudge)
Ginger and brother are indirect objects.
 LET’S
PRACTICE!
 Practice
Identify all direct and indirect objects in
the following sentences:
1.After the game our family ate a huge
dinner.
2.The mayor gave the citizen an award for
his contributions to the community.
3.My friend showed me a funny picture.
4.Several students studied their notes during
their break.
 Answers
Identify all direct and indirect objects in the
following sentences:
1. After the game our family ate a huge dinner.
(Dinner is the DO)
2. The mayor gave the citizen an award for his
contributions to the community. (Citizen is the
IO and award is the DO).
3. My friend showed me a funny picture. (Me is
the indirect object and picture is the direct object.)
4. Several students studied their notes during their
break. (Notes is the direct object)
 Direct and Indirect Object
Practice
Identify the direct object in the following
sentence:
During science class the students
studied the different layers of the Earth.
a)Earth
b)Students
c)Layers
d)class
 The direct object is….
During science class the students studied
the different layers of the Earth.
 Direct and Indirect Object
Practice
Identify the direct object in the following sentence:
Plate movements cause great changes in the
Earth’s crust.
a)Crust
b)Changes
c)Earth’s
d)movements
 The direct object is….
Plate movements cause great changes in the
Earth’s crust.
 Direct and Indirect Objects
Practice
Identify the direct object in the following
sentence:
Scientists began mapping the seafloor
in detail in the 1950’s.
a)Sea
b)Detail
c)Floor
d)1950’s
 The direct object is….
Scientists began mapping the sea floor in
detail in the 1950’s.
Direct and Indirect Objects
What is the indirect object in the following
sentence?
Wegener gave scientists specific
evidence to support continental
drift.
a)Wegener
b)scientists
c)evidence
d)drift
 The indirect object is….

Wegener gave scientists specific

evidence to support continental
drift.
Direct and Indirect Objects
What is the indirect object in the following
sentence?
The scientific method gives us specific
steps to follow when we have a question
or problem to solve.
a)method
b)steps
c)question
d)us
 The indirect object is…
The scientific method gives us specific
steps to follow when we have a question
or problem to solve.