Definition

• In grammar, an indirect object is a noun, pronoun, or phrase that indicates to or for whom something is being done. The indirect object usually comes after the direct object.
• A direct object is accompanied by an indirect object, which responds to the questions "for what," "of what," "to what," "for whom," "of whom," or "to whom."

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Examples

The direct object of the phrase "You forgave me for my mistake" is "my mistake" since the mistake is what is being forgiven. "Me" is the indirect object because the error is being pardoned for me.

This statement is further complicated by the fact that the immediate object of "forgive" might alternately be a thing that is wrong and a person (like myself) (my mistake).

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For example, in the sentence "I gave my brother a book," the direct object is "book" and the indirect object is "my brother."

In contrast, a direct object is a noun, pronoun, or phrase that indicates what or whom the subject is acting upon. In the above sentence, the direct object would be "my brother."

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