Indirect objects Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Lesson 40: Indirect Objects

Question 1. What is an indirect object?
Answer: An indirect object is a noun phrase that shows who or what is getting the direct object. You can find it by asking the question: "Who or what is getting the direct object?" For example, in the sentence "Mary gave the information to Robert," the noun phrase Robert is the indirect object because Robert is getting the information (the direct object).
In simple words: The indirect object is the person or thing that gets the direct object. Ask yourself "Who or what is receiving it?" to find the indirect object.

Exam Tip: Always remember that indirect objects must have direct objects — you cannot have an indirect object without a direct object in the same sentence.

Question 2. Which prepositions introduce indirect objects and how do different verbs use them?
Answer: Indirect objects are introduced by the prepositions "to" or "for". Some verbs, such as tell and show, use "to" to introduce an indirect object. Other verbs, such as buy and leave, use "for". For example, "She told the truth to her granddaughter" uses "to," while "They bought a car for their teenage daughter" uses "for".
In simple words: The words "to" and "for" bring in the indirect object. With verbs like tell and show, use "to." With verbs like buy and leave, use "for."

Exam Tip: Test which preposition works by trying both — the one that makes the sentence natural will match the verb's pattern.

Question 3. How can you tell the difference between an indirect object and an object of a preposition when "to" or "for" appears in a sentence?
Answer: The key is to check whether the noun phrase following "to" or "for" is getting the direct object. If it is, then it is an indirect object. If it is not, then it is an object of a preposition. For example, in "Mary gave the baby to Robert," Robert is getting the baby (direct object), so Robert is the indirect object. But in "Mary carried the baby to the corner," the corner is not getting the baby, so the corner is an object of the preposition "to," not an indirect object.
In simple words: Ask yourself: "Is this person or thing getting the direct object?" If yes, it is an indirect object. If no, it is just an object of a preposition.

Exam Tip: The quickest test is to replace the phrase with a different noun and see if the meaning fits — indirect objects always receive something, while objects of prepositions usually show location, time, or reason.

Question 4. What are the two possible positions for indirect objects in English sentences?
Answer: Indirect objects can occur in two positions: (a) after the direct object, introduced by "to" or "for" — for example, "Joan gave a present to Bill" — or (b) before the direct object, without "to" or "for" — for example, "Joan gave Bill a present." In both cases, Bill is the indirect object, and the meaning stays the same.
In simple words: The indirect object can go after the direct object with "to" or "for," or it can go before the direct object without "to" or "for." Both patterns mean the same thing.

Exam Tip: A helpful trick is to try switching a sentence from one pattern to the other — if you can do it while keeping the meaning, there is an indirect object.

Question 5. What is the rule when the direct object is a pronoun?
Answer: When the direct object is a pronoun, it must come before the indirect object. The second pattern (indirect object before direct object) is not possible. For example, you can say "My sister sent it to her friend," but you cannot say "My sister sent her friend it." The pronoun direct object must always move in front of the indirect object.
In simple words: If the direct object is a pronoun like it, them, or me, it must come before the indirect object. Never put the indirect object first when the direct object is a pronoun.

Exam Tip: When you see a pronoun after the verb, check if there is an indirect object — if there is, the pronoun must stay right after the verb.

Test Yourself 40.1 - Getting Started

Question 1. Holly left the plate for Luke.
Answer: The indirect object is Luke. Luke is getting the plate (the direct object), so Luke is the indirect object introduced by the preposition "for."
In simple words: Luke is the person getting the plate, so Luke is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: Ask "Who is getting the plate?" The answer is always the indirect object.

Question 2. She taught the principles to the class.
Answer: The indirect object is the class. The class is getting the principles (the direct object), so the class is the indirect object introduced by the preposition "to."
In simple words: The class is the group getting the principles, so the class is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: The preposition "to" often signals an indirect object with verbs like teach, tell, and show.

Question 3. Big Bird is telling the story to all the children.
Answer: The indirect object is all the children. All the children are getting the story (the direct object), so they form the indirect object introduced by the preposition "to."
In simple words: All the children are the ones getting the story, so they make up the indirect object.

Exam Tip: Indirect objects can be compound (more than one) or can include descriptive words like "all."

Question 4. His father had bought the boat for Jonathan.
Answer: The indirect object is Jonathan. Jonathan is getting the boat (the direct object), so Jonathan is the indirect object introduced by the preposition "for."
In simple words: Jonathan is the person getting the boat, so Jonathan is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: The preposition "for" often signals an indirect object with verbs like buy, leave, and make.

Question 5. You will show the money to me.
Answer: The indirect object is me. The pronoun me is getting the money (the direct object), so me is the indirect object introduced by the preposition "to."
In simple words: Me is the person getting the money, so me is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: Indirect objects can be pronouns — look for pronouns like me, you, him, her, us, or them in this position.

Test Yourself 40.2 - Getting Started

Question 1. John worked that job for fifty years.
Answer: No — "to" and "for" are not being used to introduce an indirect object. The phrase "for fifty years" tells us the length of time John worked, not who is getting the direct object. "Fifty years" is an object of the preposition "for," not an indirect object.
In simple words: "For fifty years" answers "how long," not "who is getting something." So it is not an indirect object.

Exam Tip: Ask "Who or what is getting the direct object?" If the answer is not clear, the phrase is likely not an indirect object.

Question 2. The professor is showing the problem to the student.
Answer: Yes — "to" is being used to introduce an indirect object. "The student" is getting the problem (the direct object), so "the student" is the indirect object.
In simple words: The student is getting the problem, so the student is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: With the verb show, "to" usually signals that an indirect object follows.

Question 3. His wife and child brought fruit to him at the hospital.
Answer: Yes — "to" is being used to introduce an indirect object. The pronoun "him" is getting the fruit (the direct object), so "him" is the indirect object. The phrase "at the hospital" is a separate prepositional phrase that tells where the action took place.
In simple words: Him is getting the fruit, so him is the indirect object. "At the hospital" just tells where.

Exam Tip: Do not mix up different prepositional phrases — focus on who or what is getting the direct object.

Question 4. Tom has left the company for another job.
Answer: No — "for" is not being used to introduce an indirect object. "Another job" is not getting the company; instead, Tom is leaving the company in order to take another job. "For another job" explains the reason for the action, so it is an object of the preposition "for," not an indirect object.
In simple words: "For another job" tells why Tom left, not who is getting something. So it is not an indirect object.

Exam Tip: If the phrase answers "why" or "for what reason," it is probably not an indirect object.

Question 5. The visiting king thanked the president for his hospitality.
Answer: No — "for" is not being used to introduce an indirect object. "His hospitality" is not getting anything; instead, the king is thanking the president because of his hospitality. "For his hospitality" tells the reason for the thanks, so it is an object of the preposition "for," not an indirect object.
In simple words: "For his hospitality" tells why the king is thankful, not who is getting something. So it is not an indirect object.

Exam Tip: The verb thank often takes a prepositional phrase with "for" that shows the reason, not the indirect object.

Test Yourself 40.3 - Getting Started

Question 1. Change the sentence to the other pattern: The principal might show the film to her students.
Answer: The principal might show her students the film.
In simple words: Move "her students" (the indirect object) to come before "the film" (the direct object) and remove "to."

Exam Tip: When shifting patterns, always remove "to" or "for" when the indirect object moves before the direct object.

Question 2. Change the sentence to the other pattern: Mrs. Hausen sent the company her check.
Answer: Mrs. Hausen sent her check to the company.
In simple words: Move "the company" (the indirect object) to come after "her check" (the direct object) and add "to."

Exam Tip: When the indirect object is before the direct object, add "to" or "for" to move it after the direct object.

Question 3. Change the sentence to the other pattern: We bought the house for our parents.
Answer: We bought our parents the house.
In simple words: Move "our parents" (the indirect object) to come before "the house" (the direct object) and remove "for."

Exam Tip: Verbs like buy and leave use "for" in the first pattern, so remove it when shifting to the second pattern.

Question 4. Change the sentence to the other pattern: The referee threw me the ball.
Answer: The referee threw the ball to me.
In simple words: Move "me" (the indirect object) to come after "the ball" (the direct object) and add "to."

Exam Tip: When the indirect object is a pronoun in the first position, add "to" to shift it to the end.

Question 5. Change the sentence to the other pattern: The artist is drawing a sketch for her patron.
Answer: The artist is drawing her patron a sketch.
In simple words: Move "her patron" (the indirect object) to come before "a sketch" (the direct object) and remove "for."

Exam Tip: Verbs like draw use "for" in the pattern with the indirect object after the direct object.

Test Yourself 40.4 - Getting Started

Question 1. Change the sentence to the other pattern: He will send the poem to his fiancée.
Answer: He will send his fiancée the poem.
In simple words: Move "his fiancée" (the indirect object) to come before "the poem" (the direct object) and remove "to."

Exam Tip: Verbs like send use "to" with the indirect object after the direct object — remove it when shifting patterns.

Question 2. Change the sentence to the other pattern: The professor is e-mailing the students his comments.
Answer: The professor is e-mailing his comments to the students.
In simple words: Move "the students" (the indirect object) to come after "his comments" (the direct object) and add "to."

Exam Tip: When the indirect object comes first, add "to" to shift it after the direct object.

Question 3. Change the sentence to the other pattern: That company built a ship for the navy.
Answer: That company built the navy a ship.
In simple words: Move "the navy" (the indirect object) to come before "a ship" (the direct object) and remove "for."

Exam Tip: Verbs like build use "for" with the indirect object after the direct object.

Question 4. Change the sentence to the other pattern: She drew a picture for her son.
Answer: She drew her son a picture.
In simple words: Move "her son" (the indirect object) to come before "a picture" (the direct object) and remove "for."

Exam Tip: Remember that "for" is removed when the indirect object shifts to the position before the direct object.

Question 5. Change the sentence to the other pattern: Amanda's friend was throwing a party for her.
Answer: Amanda's friend was throwing her a party.
In simple words: Move "her" (the indirect object) to come before "a party" (the direct object) and remove "for."

Exam Tip: When the indirect object is a pronoun in the second position, always remove "for" when shifting it to come before the direct object.

Test Yourself 40.5 - Getting Started

Question 1. We found a dress for her.
Answer: The indirect object is her. The pronoun her is getting the dress (the direct object).
In simple words: Her is the person getting the dress, so her is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: Pronouns like her, him, me, you, and them often work as indirect objects.

Question 2. Mr. Duquesne has brought him the plans.
Answer: The indirect object is him. The pronoun him is getting the plans (the direct object) and comes before the direct object without a preposition.
In simple words: Him is the person getting the plans, so him is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: When an indirect object appears before the direct object, there is no preposition — just watch for the pattern verb + pronoun + noun.

Question 3. The old hunter told us the story.
Answer: The indirect object is us. The pronoun us is getting the story (the direct object) and comes before the direct object without a preposition.
In simple words: Us is the group getting the story, so us is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: The verb tell often has the indirect object in the first position before the direct object.

Question 4. The instructor is ordering this book for the students in his class.
Answer: The indirect object is the students in his class. This noun phrase is getting the book (the direct object) and comes after the direct object with the preposition "for."
In simple words: The students in his class are the group getting the book, so they make up the indirect object.

Exam Tip: Indirect objects can be compound or can include prepositional phrases within them.

Question 5. I never promised you a rose garden.
Answer: The indirect object is you. The pronoun you is getting a rose garden (the direct object) and comes before the direct object without a preposition.
In simple words: You is the person getting the rose garden, so you is the indirect object.

Exam Tip: Look for the pattern of verb + indirect object (pronoun) + direct object.

Test Yourself 40.6 - Getting Started

Question 1. The children gave the teacher an apple.
Answer: Direct object: an apple; Indirect object: the teacher. The teacher is getting the apple.
In simple words: Ask "What did the children give?" — an apple (direct object). Ask "Who got the apple?" — the teacher (indirect object).

Exam Tip: Always spot the direct object first (what is being given/shown/told), then find the indirect object (who is getting it).

Question 2. I brought this for you.
Answer: Direct object: this; Indirect object: you. You are getting this item.
In simple words: This is the thing being brought (direct object). You is the person getting it (indirect object).

Exam Tip: The preposition "for" often marks an indirect object that comes after the direct object.

Question 3. The two men clasped hands.
Answer: Direct object: hands; Indirect object: none. There is no indirect object in this sentence because no one is getting the hands — the men are simply holding hands together.
In simple words: Hands is what the men did (the direct object), but there is no one getting the hands, so there is no indirect object.

Exam Tip: Not every sentence with a direct object has an indirect object — be careful not to force one where it does not exist.

Question 4. This treaty will benefit all mankind.
Answer: Direct object: all mankind; Indirect object: none. There is no indirect object in this sentence. "All mankind" is the direct object (the thing being benefited), but no one is getting the direct object.
In simple words: All mankind is being helped by the treaty (direct object), but nothing is being given to another person, so there is no indirect object.

Exam Tip: Some verbs like benefit do not take indirect objects — the direct object is the thing affected, not the thing passed to someone.

Question 5. She is telling the reporter the truth.
Answer: Direct object: the truth; Indirect object: the reporter. The reporter is getting the truth.
In simple words: The truth is being told (direct object). The reporter is the person getting it (indirect object).

Exam Tip: The verb tell typically takes both a direct object (what is told) and an indirect object (who is told).