Is "him" a direct object in the sentence:
"They sent him to prison."?
Several online sources claim that direct object answers the question "What?"
But it seems that it is not always the case.
2
-
2A person can indeed be a direct object.– virmaiorCommented Feb 4, 2014 at 9:47
-
You might enjoy our sister site: English Language Learners.– Matt E. ЭлленCommented Feb 4, 2014 at 12:21
Add a comment
|
3 Answers
Yes, a person can certainly be the direct object.
The question it answers is "what or whom?".
See also http://www.grammaruntied.com/blog/?p=671
The direct object is the noun that receives the action of the transitive verb.
And they give an example:
The police have arrested the man who committed the robberies.
answered Feb 4, 2014 at 9:47
-
Another example: In The judge sent the prison a new inmate that afternoon, the prison is the indirect object and the person the direct object.– tchrist ♦Commented Aug 31, 2021 at 2:44
Online grammars are not always reliable. Often they have only half the problem, often they are imprecise, and sometimes there are errors. The best is to have a reliable grammar in book form. With online grammars alone it is difficult to get insight into grammar things. After a direct object you ask: Whom or what?
Yes, of course. Example
we have sent him to receive a parcel/any kind of thing you may consider.
-
Absolutely, but you'd need an article before the 'parcel' bit :) Commented Feb 4, 2014 at 10:10