Indirect objects are words, phrases, and clauses that follow a ditransitive verb and indicate to or for whom or what the action of the verb is performed. Sentences with indirect objects must also have direct objects. Although nouns and noun phrases most frequently function as the indirect objects of sentences, four grammatical forms can perform the grammatical function of indirect object in the English language. The four grammatical forms that can function as the indirect object are:
The following sections define and exemplify the four grammatical forms that can function as the indirect object in English grammar.
Noun Phrases as Indirect Objects
The first grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of indirect object is the noun phrase. Noun phrases are defined as phrases formed by a noun or pronoun plus any determinatives, modifiers, and complements including determiners, adjectives, prepositions, and verbs. For example, the following the following italicized noun phrases function as indirect objects:
- The woman gave the cat a bath.
- My husband bought me flowers.
- The applicant mailed the university her resume.
- The student has shown his classmates his project.
Noun phrases are the most frequent grammatical form that function as indirect objects.
Noun Clauses as Indirect Objects
The second grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of indirect object is the noun clause. Noun clauses are defined as subordinate clauses formed by an independent clause preceded by a subordinating conjunction that perform nominal functions. A clause is defined as consisting of a subject and a predicate. For example, the following italicized noun clauses function as indirect objects:
- My parents gave that I want to go to the party some thought.
- I gave that you wanted me to prepare dinner a little consideration.
- You should have given what your parents said both thought and consideration.
- The teacher gave that all his students failed the test some serious reflection.
Note that, although grammatically possible, noun clauses as indirect objects are exceedingly rare. (As an aside, I clearly remember my own parents lecturing me with Your father and I have given that you want X some thought. The answer, by the way, was usually no.)
Verb Phrases as Indirect Objects
The third grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of indirect object is the verb phrase in the form of present participles. Verb phrases are defined as phrases formed by a verb plus any modifiers, complements, particles, or infinitive markers. For example, the following italicized verb phrases function as indirect objects:
- The child gave reading the book some consideration.
- I had given preparing dinner some thought.
- You should give showering daily a try.
- My grandmother is giving returning to college serious consideration.
Present participles that perform nominal functions such as the indirect object are often referred to as gerunds.
Prepositional Phrases as Indirect Objects
The fourth grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of indirect object is the prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases are defined as phrases formed by a preposition directly followed by a prepositional complement such as a noun phrase. For example, the following italicized prepositional phrases function as indirect objects:
- My mom gave under the bed a good scrubbing.
- He has given behind the house some thought.
- The contractor will give in the garage some consideration.
- You need to give above the refrigerator a cleaning.
The four grammatical forms that can function as the indirect object in the English language are noun phrases, noun clauses, verb phrases, and prepositional phrases.
Summary
Indirect objects in English grammar are words, phrases, and clauses that indicate to or for whom or what the action of a ditransitive verb is performed.
Indirect object is a grammatical function.
The grammatical forms that can function as the indirect object in English grammar are noun phrases including pronouns, prepositional phrases, verb phrases, and noun clauses.
Indirect objects are constituents of the predicate.
Sentences with indirect objects must also have direct objects.
References
Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
O’Dwyer, Bernard T. 2000. Modern English structures: Form, function, and position. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press.
