1. What Is a Direct Object?
The direct object of a verb is the thing being acted upon (i.e., the receiver of the action).
Examples of Direct Objects
Here are some examples of direct objects (shaded):
Play the guitar.
Every actor played his part.
The crowd will cheer the President.
We can climb the hill and fly the kite.
How to Find the Direct Object of a Sentence
You can find the direct object by finding the verb and asking what? (or whom?). For example:
She fed the cat.
(Step 1. Find the verb = fed)
(Step 2. Ask What? = the cat)
(Therefore, the direct object is the cat.)
Craig will read the book tomorrow.
(Step 1. Find the verb = will read)
(Step 2. Ask What? = the book)
(Therefore, the direct object is the book.)
Phrases and Clauses Can Be Direct Objects
The tip above also works when the direct object is a phrase or a clause. For example:

2. She thought that the contract had ended.
(Step 1. Find the verb = thought)
(Step 2. Ask What? = that the contract had ended)
(Therefore, the direct object is that the contract had ended.)
The constable described what he saw at the scene.
(Step 1. Find the verb = described)
(Step 2. Ask What? = what he saw at the scene)
(Therefore, the direct object is what he saw at the scene.)
Toby loves cooking scones.
(Step 1. Find the verb = loves)
(Step 2. Ask What? = cooking scones)
(Therefore, the direct object is cooking scones.)
The cat wants to eat our goldfish.
(Step 1. Find the verb = wants)
(Step 2. Ask What? = to eat our goldfish)
(Therefore, the direct object is to eat our goldfish.)
(Note: This direct object has its own verb with its own direct object. (Question: to eat what? Answer: our
goldfish.))
Only Transitive Verbs Have Direct Objects
When a verb has a direct object, it is called a transitive verb. Some verbs do not have a direct object.
They are known as intransitive verbs. For example:

3. Malcolm fell very badly.
(Step 1. Find the verb = fell)
(Step 2. Ask What? = Nothing. You can't fall something.)
(Therefore, there is no direct object. The verb to fall is intransitive.)
Joan is sleeping at the moment.
(Step 1. Find the verb = sleeping)
(Step 2. Ask What? = Nothing. You can't sleep something.)
(Therefore, there is no direct object. The verb to sleep is intransitive.)
Do Not Confuse Complements with Direct Objects
If you ask what? with a linking verb, you will find a verb complement not a direct object. For example:
Peter is happy.
(Step 1. Find the verb = is)
(Step 2. Ask What? = happy.)
(However, on this occasion, happy is not the direct object. This is because is (i.e., the verb to be) is a
linking verb.)