COMPLEMENTSDirect Objects

A complement is a word or words that complete the meaning of a verb.

A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or word group that tells who or what receives the action of the verb.

The direct object answers the question “what” after a transitive verb.

HOW TO FIND A DIRECT OBJECT

1. Find the verb. 2. If it is an action verb, say “verb what?”

3. If the question can be answered, it is the direct object.

EXAMPLES

My uncle sent me a postcard. Action verb……. SENT Sent what? Sent Postcard

Postcard is the complement/direct object

EXAMPLES

Our history class built a model of the Alamo.

Action verb….. BUILT Built what? Built model

Model is the complement/direct object

EXAMPLES

Has the freeze destroyed some of the crops?

Action verb…. Destroyed Destroyed what? Destroyed some

Some is the complement/direct object.

EXAMPLES

Mrs. Daniell planted tulips and daffodils. Action verb…. Planted Planted what? Planted tulips and daffodils.

Tulips/daffodils are the complements/direct objeccts

ASSIGNMENT

Grammar book— Pg. 402, #1-10 (follow directions on page)

PG. 402 1. On the plains of the American West, the

Cheyenne hunted buffalo for food and clothing. Hunted what? Buffalo--do 2. We watched a performance of Lorraine

hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. Watched what? Performance—do 3. During most of its history, the US has welcomed

refugees from other countries. Welcomed what? Refugees--do

PG. 402 4. The leading man wore a hat with a large plume. Wore what? Hat—do 5. Are you recycling bottles and cans? Are recycling what? Bottles and cans—do 6. After the game, the coach answered questions

from the sports reporters. Answered what? Questions—do 7. Did you see her performance on television? See what? Performance--do

PG. 402 8. The researchers followed the birds’ migration

from Mexico to Canada. Followed what Migration--do 9. Mayor fiorello La Guadia governed New York City

during the Depression. Governed what? New York City--do 10. Have the movie theaters announced the special

discount for teenagers yet? Announced what? Discount--do

INDIRECT OBJECT

An indirect object is a noun, pronoun, or word group that sometimes appears in sentences containing direct objects.

DIRECTIONS

1. If there is a direct object, ask “to whom?”or “to what?” or “for whom?” or “for what?”

2. If the question can be answered and can be found BETWEEN the verb and the direct object, it is the INDIRECT OBJECT.

EXAMPLES

Luke showed the class his collection of comic books.

Action verb…. Showed Showed what? Showed collection To whom? The class Class is the indirect object and collection

is the direct object.

EXAMPLES

Connor bought us a map of Alabama. Action verb…. Bought Bought what? Bought map-------map is the direct object For whom? For us Us is the indirect object and map is the

direct object

EXAMPLES Dad gave whatever needed fixing his full

attention. Action verb….. Gave Gave what? Gave attention-------attention is d.o. Gave attention to what? To whatever needed fixing Whatever needed fixing Whatever needed fixing is the indirect

object

ASSIGNMENT

Pg. 404Exercise 4, #1-10

PG. 404 1. They sent me on a wild-goose chase. Sent what ? Me—do 2. Gloria mailed the company a check yesterday. Mailed what? Check--do To whom? Company--io 3. The speaker showed the audience the slides of

Zimbabwe. Showed what? Slides—do To whom? Audience--io

PG. 404 4. Juan would not deliberately tell you and me a lie. Would tell what? Lie--do To whom? You and me—io 5. The coach praised the students for their school

spirit. Praised what? Students—do 6. I sent my cousins some embroidered pillows for

their new apartment in New York. Sent what? Pillows—do To whom? Cousins--io

PG. 404 7. The art teacher displayed the students’ paintings. Displayed what? Paintings—do What is students’? Plural—not an io

8. Sue’s parents shipped her the books and the magazines.

Shipped what? Books and magazines--do To whom? Her—io

PG. 404

9. Carly, Mary Ellen, and Doreen taught themselves the importance of hard work.

Taught what? Importance—do To whom? Themselves—io

10. In most foreign countries, US citizens must carry their passports for identification.

Must carry what? Passports--do