Sentence Diagramming: Flashcard 6
A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or equivalent expression* that names the direct recipient of the action of a verb. Not all sentences have direct objects. You can identify a direct object by asking whom? or what? immediately after a non-linking verb. The following sentences have direct objects: "I can't find my pencil" (can't find what?), "Please give them your address" (give what?), "We will catch him" (will catch whom?).

An indirect object is a noun or pronoun used with a verb of giving, saying, or showing to indicate to whom or for whom the direct object is intended. The following sentences have indirect objects: "The architect showed the clients his drawings," "He gave everyone enough time," "The teacher will tell you a story," "Please sing us a song," "Do me a favor."

The personal pronouns are I, me, you, he, him, she, her, it, we, us, they, them; the possessive forms are my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, their, and theirs.**

As you make your way through these flashcards, you may wish to refer to a section of my website that deals with terminology, www.german-latin-english.com/diagrammingterms.htm. 
On the right is a diagram of the sentence "Her friend offered her a ride." Ride is a direct object (the friend offered what?), and the personal pronoun her is an indirect object (offered a ride to whom?).  A direct object follows the verb on the base line. It is separated from the verb by a vertical line that sits on the base line. An indirect object rests on a horizontal line whose left end is connected to a slanted line at a spot near the bottom of the slanted line. The slanted line is attached to the base line under the verb. Flashcard 7: prepositional phrases. 
* Phrases and clauses can function as direct objects. This is a topic for later.

** Mine, yours, hers, ours, and theirs are called absolute possessives. More about this on Flashcard 11.

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