18.5.4: A direct object in a question will sometimes be found before the verb.
In normal word order, a direct object follows a verb. In questions that are in inverted word order,
however, the direct object often appears before the verb and subject.
Question: What did Mary play at her recital?
Reworded in normal word order: Mary did play what at her recital.
Indirect Object
18.5.5: An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that comes after an action verb and before a direct
object. It names the person or thing to which something is given or for which something is done.
Sentences with a direct object may also contain another kind of complement, called an indirect object.
A sentence cannot have an indirect object unless it has a direct object.
An indirect object answers the questions To or for whom? or To or for what? after an action verb. To
find an indirect object, find the direct object first. Then, ask the appropriate question.
Jane told them the story. S – AV – IO – DO.
(Told what? [story]) – (Told the story to whom? [them])
Keep in mind the following pattern: Subject - Verb - Indirect Object - Direct Object.
An indirect object will almost always come between the verb and the direct object in a sentence.
Compound Indirect Objects
Like a subject, verb, or direct object, an indirect object can be compound.
Dave assigned each car and truck a new parking place. S – AV – IO + IO – DO.
15.5.6: An Indirect object never follows the preposition to or for in a sentence.
Father bought him a car. S – AV – IO – DO.
Father bought a car for him. S –AV – DO – PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE.
Paul gave a sandwich to Jerome. S –AV – DO – PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE.
Subject Compliments
Both direct objects and indirect objects are complements used with action verbs. Linking verbs,
however, have a different kind of complement called a subject complement. Like direct and indirect
objects, subject complements add information to a sentence. However, subject complements give
readers more information about the subject of the sentence, not the verb.
18.5.7: A subject complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb and provides
important details about the subject.