Ever read a grammar explanation that made you want to throw your textbook out the window? I remember staring at sentences like "She gave him the book" in high school, completely baffled about why "him" mattered. Turns out I wasn't alone—about 70% of my tutoring students freeze up when we hit indirect objects. Let's fix that today.
Cutting Through the Grammar Jargon
Grammar terms sound fancy, but what is an indirect object really? Picture this: You bake cookies (direct object) and hand them to your neighbor (indirect object). The indirect object is always the recipient of the direct object. If someone's receiving something, they're probably your indirect object.
I taught ESL for five years, and here's what actually helps learners:
- Find the action verb (gave, told, sent)
- Ask "to whom?" or "for whom?" after finding the direct object
- If you get an answer, that's your indirect object
Real-Life Examples That Won't Make You Snooze
Textbook examples like "She gave John the ball" are useless. Let's use stuff people say:
| Sentence | Indirect Object | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| My boss texted me the meeting time. | me | Received the text (direct object) |
| Can you read the kids a bedtime story? | the kids | Receiving the story |
| They owe my company $500. | my company | Money is owed to them |
Notice how all indirect objects answer "to/for whom?" after the verb? That's your golden ticket.
Once had a student write "I emailed the report the client" instead of "I emailed the client the report." Total confusion when the client asked where their report was. That's why getting this right matters.
Indirect Objects vs. Direct Objects: The Showdown
This trips up even native speakers. Direct objects receive the action directly, indirect objects get it secondhand. Try this test:
Step 1: Find the verb (e.g., "threw")
Step 2: Ask "threw what?" → direct object ("the ball")
Step 3: Ask "threw to whom?" → indirect object ("her")
→ "He threw her the ball."
Common Verbs That Demand Indirect Objects
Some verbs almost always bring friends:
| Verb | Requires IO? | Real Example |
|---|---|---|
| give | Yes | Give me reasons why |
| explain | No* | Explain this to me (prepositional phrase, not IO) |
| owe | Yes | You owe Sarah an apology |
*This one's tricky. "Explain" can't take an indirect object alone—you need "to." Honestly, I hate this exception. It's why people say "Explain me this" incorrectly.
Why You Keep Missing Indirect Objects
Three big mistakes I see daily:
- Mistake 1: Confusing them with prepositional phrases ("She sang to him" vs. "She sang him a song")
- Mistake 2: Forgetting they only exist when there's a direct object
- Mistake 3: Missing implied indirect objects like in "I baked cookies" (implied: for someone)
A client once wrote a contract: "The supplier will send Thursday the shipment." Missing "to" before Thursday? Chaos ensued. Grammar isn't just pedantry—it's clarity.
The Preposition Trap
Biggest headache: When DO you use "to/for"? Shortcut:
| Use Indirect Object | Use Prepositional Phrase |
|---|---|
| She threw me the keys | She threw the keys to me |
| I'll make you coffee | I'll make coffee for you |
Same meaning, just different structure. Honestly, both are fine—but standardized writing often leans toward indirect objects.
Why Bother? Real-World Impact
Beyond grammar quizzes, understanding what an indirect object is helps with:
- Writing clear emails ("Please send the team the files" vs. vague "Please send the files")
- Avoiding legal ambiguity ("Pay the consultant the fee" specifies who gets paid)
- Learning languages like Spanish where indirect objects change verb endings
My college roommate wrote "I wrote my professor" instead of "I wrote to my professor." Professor thought she was claiming authorship of him. Awkward.
Your Burning Questions Answered
Can an indirect object come after the direct object?
Only with prepositions: "She gave the book to me" (not a true indirect object). True indirect objects always precede direct objects in English. That's non-negotiable.
Are "me," "him," "us" always indirect objects?
Nope. In "He saw me," "me" is a direct object. Depends entirely on whether they're receiving anything. Context is king.
How do I diagram sentences with indirect objects?
Draw a slanted line under the verb pointing to the indirect object, then a straight line to the direct object. But frankly? Unless you're a teacher, skip diagramming. Practical recognition matters more.
Do commands have indirect objects?
Absolutely: "Tell me the truth." The implied "you" is the subject, "me" is still receiving.
Why does "what is an indirect object" confuse people?
Because textbooks overcomplicate it. If you remember they show who benefits from an action, you're 90% there.
Spot Check: Find the Indirect Objects
Test your skills with these real-world sentences:
- We booked the client a meeting room
- Can you pass Dad the potatoes?
- Her comment earned the post thousands of likes
(Answers: client, Dad, the post. How'd you do?)
Final thought? Don't stress about the term "indirect object." Focus on spotting who's receiving something in a sentence. That's the core of what an indirect object is. Took me years of teaching to realize simplicity wins.
Last week, my nephew asked why we say "Sing me a song" but not "Explain me this." Now that's a smart kid. He gets that indirect objects have patterns—and exceptions. Maybe there's hope for us all.
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