Definition & Meaning of "object"

What is an "object"?

An object is a part of a sentence that receives the action of the verb or is affected by it. There are two main types of objects: direct objects and indirect objects. A direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" after the verb. For example, in the sentence "She reads a book," "a book" is the direct object because it is what is being read. An indirect object, on the other hand, tells to whom or for whom the action is performed. In the sentence "He gave her a gift," "her" is the indirect object because it indicates to whom the gift was given. Objects can be nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases, and they help to clarify the action and enhance the meaning of the sentence.