An object is an entity involved in the subject's ‘performance’ of the verb. Look at this sentence below:
Mr Bibby kicked the ball. (object)
Mr Bibby is the subject (the doer or performer), kick is the verb (the action) and the ball is object involved in the action.
The main verb in the sentence determines whether there can or must be objects in the sentence, and, if so, how many and of what type. This is called the verb valency. If the verb is transitive, as is the verb to kick in the example above, the action is ‘carried over’ and an object is required. If the verb is intransitive there is no objects, as in the example below.
Intransitive verbs (no object)
The train arrived.
The verb to arrive is intransitive. It cannot take an object.
Transitive verbs (one object)
Mr Jenner breaks the windows.
The verb to enjoy is monotransitive, and requires one object. It would be ungrammatical to say Mr Jenner breaks, unless the verb to breaksconveys a different meaning.
Ambitransitive verbs (one or no object)
Miss Gold eats a banana every morning.
The verb to eat is ambitranistive and permits, but do not requires, an object. The sentence Miss Gold eats every morning is grammatically correct.
Ditransitive verbs (two objects)
John put the book on the shelve.
The verb to put requires two objects. Neither John put on the shelve, nor John put the book are grammatical sentences, at least in English.
Object (grammar)can be direct or indirect, the latest being introduced by a preposition. Modern English does not, however, distinguish direct and indirect object for pronouns.
direct object
We threw stones.
indirect object
We listened to the radio.
objective pronoun
They advised him to open a shop.
Objects are either nominals (nouns, pronouns, noun phrases or clauses) or either prepositional phrases which consist of a preposition followed by a nominal.
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