Although nouns and noun phrases are the most frequent grammatical form that function as the direct object of sentences, four grammatical forms can perform the grammatical function of direct object in the English language. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn and understand the four grammatical forms that can function as the direct object in order to correctly and completely use direct objects in spoken and written English. The four grammatical forms that can function as the direct object are:
- Noun phrases
- Prepositional phrases
- Verb phrases
- Noun clauses
Direct objects are words, phrases, and clauses that follow a transitive verb and receive the action of the verb.
Noun Phrases as Direct Objects
The first grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of direct object is the noun phrase. Noun phrases are defined as phrases formed by a noun or pronoun and any modifying words, phrases, and clauses. For example, the following the following italicized noun phrases function as direct objects:
- A toddler is eating a banana.
- I sometimes give my cat fish.
- The mother dog disciplined her very naughty litter of puppies.
- A young couple will have bought the house that we are selling.
Noun phrases are the most frequent grammatical form that function as direct objects.
Prepositional Phrases as Direct Objects
The second grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of direct 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 direct objects:
- My mom cleaned under the bed.
- Your father will be decorating on the roof.
- I have organized in the refrigerator.
- Our brother is painting behind the couch.
Prepositional phrases functioning as direct objects can also be analyzed as adverbials. If the prepositional phrase answers the question "what?" about the verb, then the prepositional phrase can be analyzed as the direct object. If the prepositional phrase answers any of the questions "when?," "where?," "why?," or "how?" about the verb or clause, then the prepositional phrase can be analyzed as an adverbial.
Verb Phrases as Direct Objects
The third grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of direct object is the verb phrase in the form of present participles and infinitives. 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 direct objects:
- Most librarians enjoy reading.
- My children prefer to eat vegetables.
- The baby likes listening to music.
- The cleaning staff appreciates our picking up our messes.
Traditional grammars usually use the term gerund for present participles functioning as direct objects.
Noun Clauses as Direct Objects
The fourth grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of direct object is the noun clause. Noun clauses are defined as subordinate clauses formed by an independent clause preceded by a subordinating conjunction. A clause is defined as consisting of a subject and a predicate. For example, the following italicized noun clauses function as direct objects:
- Your mom appreciates that you cleaned the house.
- I admire how you work full time and attend graduate school.
- The puppy hates when I slam the door shut.
- Word order determines whether a noun phrase is a subject or an object in English.
Noun clauses can also perform almost all the other functions as noun phrases.
The four grammatical forms that can function as the direct object in the English language are noun phrases, prepositional phrases, verb phrases, and noun clauses. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn and understand the four grammatical forms to properly and fully construct sentences with direct objects in both spoken and written English.
Sources
"The Direct Object." Internet Grammar of English. 1998. The Survey of English Usage. 10 Apr. 2009.
Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.
O'Dwyer, Bernard. Modern English Structures: Form, Function, and Position. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 2000.
Heather Marie Kosur - About Me I earned a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing from Illinois State University in May 2007 and an MS in ...
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