Understanding Objects in English Grammar: Types and Examples
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Summary:
Master objects in English grammar: types, examples, identification tips, errors and exam strategies for secondary students to write clearly and score better.
Object: The Building Block of Grammatical Clarity
Introduction
When Jaya writes, “Father bought sweets,” what — or whom — did father buy? It is “sweets” that completes the sense. Such words, called objects, give sentences their full meaning. For every student striving to write clearly in English, especially in the Indian education system where grammar still reigns on tests and in interviews, grasping the concept of objects is essential. This essay explores what objects are, their types, how to identify them, related common mistakes, and practical classroom strategies for mastering this foundational part of grammar. Along the way, we’ll use Indian examples and classroom realities, ensuring that our understanding is deeply rooted and ready for examination — not just of language, but of life.Defining Object in Simple Terms
An object is the part of a sentence that receives the action or completes the relationship started by a verb or preposition. Imagine every verb as looking for partnership; the object is its companion, filling out the meaning. Put simply, “object” answers “whom?” or “what?” after the verb, and “whom?,” “what?,” “where?,” “when?,” “with whom?,” or “for what?” after a preposition. Every time you say, “She reads newspapers,” or “They talk about cricket,” the words “newspapers” and “cricket” are the objects, making the sentences whole.Classification of Objects
Objects come in various forms, depending on their placement and function.A. Direct Objects (DO)
Definition: A direct object receives the action of the verb directly; it answers “what?” or “whom?” after the main verb.Structure: Subject + Verb + DO.
Examples:
- “Kabir played the tabla.” (What did Kabir play? The tabla.) - “The principal visited the classroom.” (What did she visit? The classroom.) - “We respect our elders.” (Whom do we respect? Our elders.)
Variants: - Noun phrase: “She bought a bunch of roses.” (DO = a bunch of roses) - Noun clause: “He understood that honesty pays.” (DO = that honesty pays) - Infinitive phrase: “She wants to become a doctor.” (DO = to become a doctor)
Identification Tests: - Ask “what?” or “whom?” after the verb. - Attempt passive voice: “A doctor is wanted by her.” (If the object can move to the subject position in passive, it's a DO.) - Remember: Verbs like “sleep” or “run” are intransitive; they do not take DOs.
Tip: Beware of verbs whose meaning shifts with a DO (“run” a shop vs “run” fast).
B. Indirect Objects (IO)
Definition: An indirect object indicates to whom, for whom, or to which the action is devoted — the beneficiary or recipient of the action.Structure: - Subject + Verb + IO + DO (“Lata gave Divya chocolates.”) - OR Subject + Verb + DO + to/for + IO (“Lata gave chocolates to Divya.”)
Examples:
- “Father sent me a postcard.” (DO = a postcard; IO = me) - “The guru taught students a shloka.” (DO = a shloka; IO = students)
Identifying IO: - Try reordering: “Father sent a postcard to me.” - The IO usually comes before the DO unless introduced by a preposition.
Common Confusion: - Do not confuse IO with object of preposition: “He made tea for uncle.” Here, “uncle” is object of “for”, not an IO.
C. Objects of Prepositions (OP)
Definition: The object of a preposition follows a preposition (in, on, for, by, about, etc.) and completes its meaning.Function: Adds detail — time, place, reason.
Examples:
- “She lives in Mumbai.” (in Mumbai — OP: Mumbai) - “We went for a walk after dinner.” (for a walk, after dinner — OPs: walk, dinner) - “They talked about the movie.” (about the movie — OP: movie)
Variants: - OP can be a pronoun (“for her”), noun phrase (“in the old house”), or clause (“about what you said”).
Tip: Find the preposition, and the noun/pronoun next to it is usually the object.
D. Object Complements
Definition: An object complement renames or describes the direct object, following it.Examples:
- “The committee appointed Suman secretary.” (Suman = DO, secretary = object complement) - “They call her brave.” (her = DO, brave = object complement)
Note: Not every sentence needs an object complement — only certain verbs (make, call, name, elect, consider, etc.) can take them.
Interaction with Other Grammatical Areas
A. Passive Voice and Objects
Direct objects can switch to subject position in passive sentences: “Ravi wrote a poem.” → “A poem was written by Ravi.”With IOs: “She gave Anil a gift.” → “A gift was given to Anil.” / “Anil was given a gift.”
Exam Tip: Try transforming into passive when in doubt.
B. Pronoun Case with Objects
Objects always use objective pronouns: me, him, her, us, them, whom.Example: - “The team supports him.” (Correct) - “The team supports he.” (Incorrect)
Trick: Remove the other noun to check: “Between you and me.” (not “I”).
C. Compound Objects
Objects can be joined by “and” or “or”: “She brought apples and oranges.”D. Clauses, Gerunds, and Infinitives as Objects
- “I know that he lied.” (Clause as DO) - “She loves cooking.” (Gerund as DO) - “He plans to attend IIT.” (Infinitive phrase as DO)Tip: If the object is a clause, it will have its own verb; gerunds end in –ing.
E. Phrasal Verbs and Object Placement
Some phrasal verbs allow splitting: “She turned off the fan” or “She turned the fan off.” Others do not: “She looks after her grandmother.” (never “looks her grandmother after”)Identification Strategies and Exam Techniques
Step-by-step Approach: 1. Spot the main verb. 2. Ask “what?” or “whom?” — the answer is the DO. 3. Ask “to/for whom?” after the verb — the answer is the IO. 4. Spot prepositions — their object is the OP. 5. Rewrite in passive voice; see which words shift.Error Checklist: - Misusing pronoun cases (using “I” instead of “me” after prepositions/verbs) - Forgetting objects after transitive verbs (“She gave.” — incomplete!) - Mixing up IO and OP (“He gave to his friend a gift.” — awkward) - Incorrect prepositions (“discuss about” — should be just “discuss”) - Phrasal verb object misplacement
Exam Tips: - Underline verbs in each sentence during exam proofs. - Circle potential objects and put DO/IO/OP next to them. - Write short cues as you annotate.
Extended Example Analysis
1. The teacher corrected the answer. - Verb: corrected; DO: the answer.2. I believe that he will win. - Verb: believe; DO: that he will win (clause).
3. Mother bought me a new book. - Verb: bought; IO: me; DO: a new book.
4. They displayed the painting in the gallery. - Verb: displayed; DO: the painting; OP: in the gallery.
5. We met before lunch. - Verb: met; OP: before lunch (no DO).
6. Please put off the meeting. / Please put the meeting off. - Phrasal verb: put off; DO: the meeting.
7. They named the baby Ayaan. - Verb: named; DO: the baby; object complement: Ayaan.
8. She loves dancing. / He hopes to pass the exam. - Verb: loves; DO: dancing (gerund). - Verb: hopes; DO: to pass the exam (infinitive phrase).
Practice: Try converting active to passive, swap IO/DO order, or replace nouns with pronouns.
Classroom Activities and Practice
- Sort-it: Give students a set of phrases; they sort into DO, IO, OP piles. - Chain story: Groups craft a story where each must add a sentence using a new object. - Worksheet drills: Identify objects in sentences from Indian contexts (e.g., “During Diwali, families light diyas.”). - Blackout editing: Remove all objects, have students fill in. - Mother tongue support: Discuss differences between Hindi/other languages (e.g., postpositions vs prepositions) to highlight translation errors.Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
- Pronoun Errors: Always use “me/him/her” for objects, never “I/he/she” after verbs and prepositions. - IO vs OP: IO comes after verb with no preposition (He gave me a pen), OP always needs a preposition (He gave a pen to me). - Omitting Objects: Don’t forget DO after transitive verbs; “She broke” is incomplete, should be “She broke the vase.” - Wrong Prepositions: Build a personal list — “listen to,” “apply for,” “depend on,” etc. - Phrasal Verbs: Memorise which can be split by objects.Conclusion
In summary, objects — whether direct, indirect, or objects of prepositions — are vital for constructing meaningful and grammatically correct English sentences. By using clear identification methods, practising with Indian-relevant examples, and being aware of common pitfalls, students can steadily improve their grammar. These skills do not just ensure better marks; they strengthen self-expression, vital for exams, interviews, and everyday communication. Remember: clarity in objects is clarity in thoughts. Make it a practice to spot objects wherever you read or write, and see your proficiency grow.Appendix: Practice Set with Answers
1. Ravi sent Neha a postcard. - DO: a postcard; IO: Neha2. The guests arrived at noon. - OP: at noon; no DO
3. She admires her coach very much. - DO: her coach; “very much” is an adverbial, not OP
4. They travelled to Chennai. - OP: to Chennai
5. Doctor gave Ritu a prescription. - DO: a prescription; IO: Ritu
6. He is proud of his achievements. - OP: of his achievements
7. We discussed the plan. - DO: the plan
8. He depends on his friends. - OP: on his friends
9. Swati made him the leader. - DO: him; object complement: the leader
10. Mother bought fruits and sweets. - DO: fruits, sweets (compound DO)
11. This is for you and me. - OP: you, me
12. They spoke about what happened. - OP: what happened (clause)
13. They announced that the match was postponed. - DO: that the match was postponed (clause)
Suggested Further Reading and Resources
- Wren & Martin, *High School English Grammar and Composition* (Indiann edition) - *Practical English Usage* by Michael Swan - Cambridge Grammar books (Indian printings) - CBSE, ISC, and state board grammar sections in previous years’ questions - Grammar apps: Grammarly, British Council app, Testbook grammar modulesTip: Read English newspapers (The Hindu, Times of India) and try to identify objects in headlines and stories. Practice really does make perfect!
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Final Note: Objects may seem small, but, like the foundation stones of an Indian fort, they support the entire structure of our sentences. Make objects your friends, and the path to clear writing — and exam success — lies straight ahead.
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