This document discusses indirect objects in English grammar. It defines an indirect object as a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb indirectly, often through a preposition like "to" or "for". Examples are given of sentences containing indirect objects, such as "Maria wrote a letter to Michel" where Michel is the indirect object. The document explains how to identify an indirect object by determining the verb and asking "to whom?" or "for whom?". It provides steps to analyze example sentences and distinguish between direct and indirect objects.

1. FOUNDATIONS OF
GRAMMAR
Podcast 9: What is an indirect object?

2. Objects in English
Objects receive the actions of verbs
In English we have
- direct objects (see Podcast 8) and
- indirect objects
Direct objects receive the verb’s action directly
Indirect objects receive the verb’s action indirectly
NOTE: indirect objects can only be
nouns or pronouns

3. What is an indirect object?
Example 1) Maria wrote a letter to Michel.
Michel receives the action of the verb (to write) indirectly,
via the preposition “to”.
Indirect objects are often (but not always)
introduced by a preposition.

4. More examples
To put it another way, the indirect object is not directly
affected by the verb.
Example 2) Mimì hit Rodolfo.
Direct object – Rodolfo
Example 3) Roberta spoke to Giovanni.
Indirect object – Giovanni

5. Direct + indirect object
Sentences can contain both a direct and an indirect object.
The word order varies between languages.
Example 4) I gave the book to Laure.
Direct – the book; indirect – Laure
Example 5) I sang a song for Iria.
Direct – a song; indirect – Iria.
Example 6) Pauline taught us the future tense.
Direct – the future tense; indirect – us

6. How can I identify an indirect object?
1. Identify the verb
2. Ask “to whom / for whom?” or “to what / for what?”
after the verb
3. If there is an answer, that answer is the indirect object
Example 7) I read to my little sister.
1: Identify the verb: The verb is “read”.
2: Ask “to whom?”: “Read to whom?”
3: There is an answer: “to my little sister”
My little sister = indirect object of the verb

7. Can you tell the difference?
Now you try:
Example 8) I bought my friend a new dictionary.
Step 1: Identify the verb. The verb is ……
Step 2: Ask “for whom?”: “I bought (the dictionary) for
whom?”
Step 3: Is there is an answer? ……
My friend = indirect object of the verb
NOTE: This sentence also has a
direct object: dictionary

8. Thank You