Jurnal Pendidikan Multidisipliner

Volume 7 Nomor 7, Juli 2024
ISSN: 27342488

COMPREHENSIVE, ANALYSIS OF DIRECT OBJECTS: DEFINTION
IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA, CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES,
SENTENCE STRUCTURE, AND EXAMPLES
Naomi Arta Tambunan1, Loria Vikki Sitanggang2, Inggrid Yossi Anna Sianipar3
Email: naomitambunan00@gmail.com1, loriastg65@gmail.com2, inggridsianipar8@gmail.com3

Universitas Hkbp Nommensen Pematangsiantar
ABSTRACT
Direct objects in intermediate English grammar are nouns, noun phrases, or pronouns that receive
the action of a transitive verb. They play a crucial role in forming complete sentences and conveying
meaning. By answering the questions "What?" or "Whom?" after the verb, direct objects provide
essential information about the action. For example, in the sentence "She read a book," the noun
"book" is the direct object as it receives the action of the verb "read." Direct objects can also be
pronouns or complete noun phrases, phrases, or clauses. Understanding direct objects is important
for writing well-structured sentences and effectively communicating ideas. Recognizing and using
direct objects correctly enhances the clarity of writing. Checking sentence structure with a grammar
checker can be a useful tool in ensuring proper usage. In conclusion, direct objects are an integral
part of sentence structure in intermediate English grammar. They are nouns, noun phrases, or
pronouns that receive the action of a transitive verb and provide essential information. By
understanding and utilizing direct objects appropriately, writers can improve the effectiveness of their
communication and convey their intended meaning more clearly.
Keywords: Definition,identifying,characteristic,types,sentence pattern and example of Direct Object.

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INTRODUCTION
This study investigates the use of direct objects in intermediate-level English grammar.
Generally, the concept of direct objects is fundamental to understanding sentence structure
and meaning in English grammar. They play a crucial role in conveying the action of the
subject and answering the questions "what" or "whom" after the verb. Direct objects are
essential components in sentence structure that directly relate verbs to their objects.
The aim of this research is to explore common patterns of direct object usage among
intermediate English language learners and to identify common errors. The research
methodology involves analyzing written data from a corpus of texts produced by
intermediate-level English learners. Findings indicate that students often struggle with
accurately positioning direct objects in sentences and face challenges in selecting the correct
form of the object based on context.
Implications of these findings are discussed to aid teaching and learning of English at
the intermediate level, emphasizing the importance of a solid understanding of English
sentence structure.
This paper explores the complexity of direct objects, their placement within sentences,
their relationship with transitive verbs, and their significance in conveying clear and coherent
ideas in English. Understanding direct objects is crucial for anyone aiming to achieve
proficiency in English grammar and communication. This paper aims to provide a
comprehensive analysis of direct objects, covering definitions, usage, and practical examples
to facilitate a better understanding of this key grammatical element.
METHODS
This research is based on literature from various sources such as books, journals,
articles, and others, which are analyzed according to the title of this study.
FINDING AND DISCUSSIONS
1. Definition of Direct Object
In English grammar, a direct object is a term referring to a word or phrase that
undergoes the action expressed by the verb. For instance, in the sentence "The students eat
cake," the direct object is "cake"; "eat" is the verb denoting the action of eating, and "cake" is
the entity being consumed.Direct objects may become complex, particularly when employed
alongside indirect objects. This concise guide aims to clarify their usage, distinguishing
between direct and indirect objects, and providing numerous examples to illustrate their
application effectively
2. Identifiying of Direct Object
In English grammar, a direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of
the verb. It answers the question "whom?" or "what?" in relation to the verb. Here's how to
identify a direct object:
- Using Action Verbs: A direct object follows a transitive verb, which is a type of action
verb. To find the direct object, you can use the formula: Subject + Verb + What? or
Whom? = Direct Object. For example, in the sentence "John loves Mary," the direct
object is "Mary" because it answers the question "whom does John love?".
- Avoiding Linking Verbs: It's important to note that direct objects are not used with
linking verbs, such as "be," "seem," "smell," or "taste." Linking verbs do not express
action and are instead like an equals sign in mathematics. Therefore, sentences with
linking verbs do not have direct objects. For instance, in the sentence "It seems
strange," "strange" is a subject complement, not a direct object.
- Objective Case for Pronouns: If the direct object is a pronoun, it must be in the
objective case. For example, in the sentence "Tara hates her," "her" is the direct object
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in the objective case.
- Examples of Direct Objects: Some examples of direct objects include "the rules" in the
sentence "The teacher explained the rules" and "cakes" in the sentence "Lee eats
cakes".
- -Transitive versus intransitive verbs distinguish between verbs that can take a direct
object and those that cannot. For instance, verbs like "laugh" and "sit" are intransitive
because they do not accept direct objects—it doesn't make sense to "laugh something"
or "sit someone." On the other hand, verbs that can take a direct object are called
transitive verbs. Sometimes, distinguishing between these types can be challenging;
intransitive verbs might be followed by prepositional or adverbial phrases instead of
direct objects.Consider the example sentence "We all laugh at Anania Williams."
Although "Anania Williams" might initially seem like a direct object, the presence of
the preposition "at" indicates it's a prepositional phrase. This clarifies that "laugh" is
intransitive because saying "We laugh Anania Williams" would be incorrect—it
requires a prepositional phrase to indicate whom we are laughing at.In contrast, with
transitive verbs like "enjoy," the direct object "Anania Williams" can directly follow
the verb without needing a preposition, as in "We enjoy Anania Williams."Some verbs
can function as both transitive and intransitive depending on their usage. For example,
"drive" is intransitive in "We drove to the mall" but transitive in "My sister drove us to
the mall."To determine if a verb is transitive or intransitive, one effective method is to
ask "what?" or "whom?" after the verb. If a meaningful answer can be provided, the
verb is transitive; if not, it is intransitive. This approach is particularly useful for verbs
like "play," which can be transitive ("She played drums") or intransitive ("The band
played").Direct objects can also consist of phrases or clauses, such as relative clauses or
gerund phrases. They function collectively as nouns within the sentence
structure.Additionally, when using pronouns as direct objects, always use the object
pronoun form (e.g., "me" instead of "I").Understanding direct objects versus indirect
objects is crucial in English grammar. Direct objects answer "what?" or "whom?" about
the verb's action, while indirect objects answer questions like "to whom?" or "for
what?" For example, in "My brother loaned me five dollars," "five dollars" is the direct
object, and "me" is the indirect object.
Finally, linking verbs such as "be," "seem," and "feel" may seem to take direct objects,
but the word following the linking verb is actually a complement, which provides more
information about the subject rather than receiving the action of the verb. For instance, in
"They are an expert at procrastination," "an expert" is a complement that describes "they";
"are" is a linking verb rather than a transitive verb.
3. Characteristic of a Direct Object
A direct object is a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that receives the action of a
transitive verb in a sentence. Here are the key characteristics:
1. Receives Action:The direct object is acted upon by the verb. For example, in "Inggrid
eats mango," the verb "eats" acts upon the direct object "mango".
2. Transitive Verbs:Direct objects are typically used with transitive verbs, which require a
direct object to complete their meaning. For example, "bake a cake" is a transitive verb
with "a cake" as the direct object.
3. Objective Case:When pronouns function as direct objects, they take the objective case
(e.g., "me," "him," "her," "us," "them").
4. Cannot Be Removed:Removing the direct object changes the meaning of the sentence.
For example, "Inggrid eats" is different from "Inggrid eats Mango".
5. Answer the question of “what”or “whom”.
Example:
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- Answer the question “what”
We decorated the tree for Christmas.
What did we decorate?(the tree)
- Anwer the question “whom”
Loria drove Naomi to her house.
Whom did Loria drive?(Naomi)
4. Types of Direct O bject
Direct objects can be classified into different types based on their characteristics and
functions within a sentence. Here are some common types of direct objects:
1. Concrete Direct Object: Refers to tangible, physical objects. For example, "She ate an
apple."
2. Abstract Direct Object: Refers to intangible concepts or ideas. For example, "He
appreciates honesty."
3. Compound Direct Object: Consists of two or more nouns or pronouns that jointly
receive the action of the verb. For example, "She bought a book and a pen."
4. Pronominal Direct Object: Refers to a pronoun that replaces a noun as the direct object.
For example, "He kissed her."
5. Direct Object of a Gerund: A noun or pronoun that functions as the direct object of a
gerund (verb form ending in -ing). For example, "She enjoys reading books."
Understanding these types can help in identifying and analyzing direct objects in
various sentence structures.
5. Sentence Pattern and Examples Sentence of Direct Object
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the sentence. It answers
the question "whom?" or "what?" in regards to the verb. For example, in the sentence
Subject + Verb + Direct Object(Whom or what)
The direct object is the part of the sentence that receives the action of the transitive
verb. In a sentence, the direct object usually follows a transitive verb without a preposition.
Example Sentences with Direct Objects:
-She eats an apple.
an apple is a direct object because it receives the action of the verb "eats".And answer
the question “what does she eat?”
- They built a sandcastle.
A sandcastle is a direct object because it receives the action of the verb "built".And
answer the question “What did they build?”
- Naomi buy some flowers.
The direct object in this sentence is "flowers" because it receives the action of the verb
"buy" and answers the question "what does Naomi buy?"
- The cat enjoys a warm place to sleep.
In this sentence, "warm place"is the direct objects because receive the action of the
verbs "enjoys" respectively.And answer the question “What does the cat enjoy?
- The seagull pecked the shark's fin."
In this sentence, the direct object is "the shark's fin" because it receives the action of
the verb "pecked" and answers the question "What did the seagull peck?"
- Jan drinks coffee
The direct object is "coffee" because it receives the action of the verb "drinks" and
answers the question "What does Jan drinks?.
CONCLUSION
From the discussion above,it can be concluded that the direct object is a crucial element
in English sentence structure, providing additional information about the action performed by
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the subject. Direct objects are typically nouns or noun phrases that receive the action from
transitive verbs, answering questions such as "what?" or "whom?".
Key characteristics of direct objects include their ability to receive the action from
verbs, their use with transitive verbs, their appearance in the objective case when they are
pronouns, and their inability to be omitted without altering the meaning of the sentence.
Types of direct objects include concrete objects, abstract objects, combined objects,
pronominal objects, and objects of gerunds.
Understanding direct objects and the differences between direct and indirect objects is
essential for constructing and analyzing sentences correctly. Direct objects must be accurately
identified to ensure clarity and accuracy in written and spoken communication.
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