object

An object is the part of a sentence—usually a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun—that is affected by a verb’s action. Objects may be direct objects or indirect objects.

Direct objects

A direct object is directly acted upon by the verb—for example:

We built homepages by hand . . .

The working-class citizens break their backs . . .

In the first sentence, homepages is the direct object of built. In the second, their backs is the direct object of break.

Indirect objects

An indirect object is affected by the action, but not directly—for example:

The United States is providing intelligence, training and equipment to Yemen’s security forces to combat al-Qaeda militants.

Here, Yemen’s security forces is the indirect object, while intelligence, training and equipment is the direct object.