Direct and Indirect object: what you really need to know

So far, you haven't had the need to know what are exactly direct and indirect object and you have been just fine. I understand. When you are learning to speak English that doesn't seem quite important. However, if you are studying English to get a degree or just deepening into learning the language you must understand this matter. In this article, I will explain the main differences between direct and indirect object and why it is so important to know.

Direct object

First, it is useful to know that some verbs, which are called transitive verbs, need a word to complete their meaning. This word is called a direct object. For example, if I say: 

I spent time with my family.

The verb spend as you see needs the word time or any other word that answers the question "what". Now, I will state the same sentence without the direct object so you see that it wouldn't make sense:

I spent with my family. You spend what? time? money? your summer vacations? a whole weekend? Oh please, tell me!!!

Any word that you use to answer the question what in this case is called direct object.Keep in mind that there are other verbs that don't need an object to complete their meaning. Those verbs are called intransitive verbs. For example, smile.

If you smile, people think you're happy. Does the verb smile need an object to complete its meaning? No! You smile and that's it! Do you need to ask: smile what? Nope. 

Now, look at these sentences and see whenever they need a direct object.

1. I bought yesterday. You bought what? books? five eggs? a great deep conditioner?2. My friends and I have. You have what? a pool party? a lot of things in common?

Indirect object

Before we move forward, there's something I need to tell you and you must always remember:

1. There's NO indirect object without a direct object.2. If a sentence has an indirect object, it will be placed always right after the verb.

Keep reading to see why.

An indirect object is the person, animal, thing, idea, etc., that gets the benefit from the action performed. It answers the question "for whom" or "to whom". For example, let's say you bought some books. You are not stating for whom or to whom you bought them. You're only answering WHAT. 

Now, if you bought those books for your little sister, the sentence would be stated as follows:I bought my little sister some books.

Other examples:

My teacher told us to study hard for the test. My teacher told whom? us (indirect object). Ok, told us what? to study (direct object).

I am buying myself a treat.I am buying whom? myself (indirect object). Ok, buying yourself what? a treat (direct object).

Now, pay attetion to this:

I bought some books for my little sister.

This sentence is totally correct, but it doesn't have an indirect object. Why? Do you remember what I wrote above in  blue highlight? If a sentence has an indirect object, it will be placed always right after the verb. 

You may think "my little sister" is the indirect object. Notice that it is not placed after the verb but after the preposition "for". That now makes "my little sister" the object of the preposition.

So, :

I bought my little sister some books. Correctverb+ indirect object + direct object

I bought some books for my little sister. Correctverb + direct object + prepositional phrase

I bought for my little sister. Incorrect. Transitive verb without a direct object.bought what?

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