Subject and Objects

Mastering the Core of English Sentences: Understanding Who or What Acts and Who or What Receives

1. What Is a Subject?

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A Simple Story to Begin

Imagine you’re at a party. Someone walks in and says, “Danced all night.” You’d probably ask, “Who danced?” Without a who, the action is floating, unattached. Now imagine someone says, “Maria danced all night.” Ah, now you know who did the dancing.
That who—the doer, the topic, the focus—is the subject of the sentence. It’s the starting point, the character your sentence is about.

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Definition of a Subject

The subject is the part of a sentence that:

• Names the person, place, thing, or idea the sentence is about.
• Performs the action (in active sentences) or is being described.
• Usually comes before the verb in English declarative sentences.
• Answers the question “Who?” or “What?” before the verb.

In the sentence The dog barks, ask “Who barks?” → The dog. That’s the subject.

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Two Essential Parts of Every Sentence

Every complete sentence has two fundamental parts:

Together they form a complete thought: The cat slept on the sofa.

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How to Find the Subject

Step 1: Find the verb.
The verb is the action or state of being (e.g., runs, is, seemed, has been sleeping).

Step 2: Ask “Who?” or “What?” before the verb.
The answer is the subject.

Examples:

• The old, dusty book fell off the shelf.
  • Verb: fell
  • Ask: What fell? → The old, dusty book (subject)
• In the middle of the night, a strange noise woke us.
  • Verb: woke
  • Ask: What woke us? → a strange noise (subject)
• She has been studying for hours.
  • Verb: has been studying
  • Ask: Who has been studying? → She (subject)

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Types of Subjects

1. Simple Subject

The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about—no modifiers, just the core word.

• The dog barked.
• My best friend Maria won the prize.
• He laughed.

2. Complete Subject

The complete subject includes the simple subject plus all its modifiers (adjectives, articles, prepositional phrases, etc.).

• The loyal, brown dog barked.
• My best friend Maria won the prize.
• The book on the top shelf fell.

3. Compound Subject

A compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects joined by a conjunction (usually and or or). They share the same verb.

• Rohan and Sohan played cricket.
• The cat or the dog has eaten the food.
• Neither the teacher nor the students were aware.

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Special Cases – Where the Subject Hides

Imperative Sentences (Commands)

In commands, the subject is you, even though it’s not written.

• Close the door. → (You) close the door.
• Please sit down. → (You) please sit down.

Sentences Beginning with There or Here

The subject comes after the verb. To find it, invert the sentence.

• There is a problem. → A problem is there. Subject: a problem
• Here are your keys. → Your keys are here. Subject: your keys

Questions

In questions, the subject may come after the helping verb. Answer the question to find it.

• Is she coming? → She is coming. Subject: she
• What did you eat? → You ate what. Subject: you

Passive Voice

In passive sentences, the subject receives the action instead of doing it. It’s still the subject (what the sentence is about).

• The cake was eaten by the children.
  • Ask: What was eaten? → The cake (subject)

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Subject in Different Sentence Structures

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Subject Pronouns vs. Object Pronouns

Pronouns that can be subjects are in the nominative case:

• I, you, he, she, it, we, they

Examples:

• I am happy.
• She sings well.
• They arrived late.

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Common Mistakes

1. Misidentifying the Subject in “There” Sentences
   • Incorrect: There is many reasons.
   • Subject is reasons, so the verb should be plural: There are many reasons.
2. Forgetting the Subject in Commands
   • Many learners think commands have no subject. They do—it’s the implied you.
3. Confusing the Object with the Subject
   • Incorrect: Him and I went to the store. → Incorrect because him is an object pronoun. Correct: He and I went to the store.

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Practice – Find the Subject

For each sentence, identify the simple subject and the complete subject.

1. The bright, morning sun woke me up.
2. On the table lay a dusty old book.
3. Stop!
4. Where are my glasses?
5. Neither the manager nor the employees were happy.

Answers:

1. Simple: sun; Complete: The bright, morning sun
2. Simple: book; Complete: a dusty old book (inverted sentence)
3. Simple: you (implied); Complete: (you)
4. Simple: glasses; Complete: my glasses (inverted: “My glasses are where?”)
5. Simple: manager, employees (compound); Complete: Neither the manager nor the employees

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Summary – 1

• The subject is what the sentence is about; it usually performs the action or is being described.
• To find it: locate the verb, then ask who? or what?
• Subjects can be simple, complete, or compound.
• Special sentence types (imperatives, questions, "there" sentences, passive voice) require careful attention.

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2. What Is an Object?

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A Simple Story to Begin

Let’s return to our party. Earlier we met the subject—the doer, the one who acts. But actions often need a target. Imagine someone says, “Maria threw.” You’d ask, “Threw what?” Now imagine they say, “Maria threw the ball.” Ah, now the action has a receiver.
That receiver—the target of the action—is an object. It completes the meaning of the verb and answers the questions “What?” or “Whom?”

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Definition of an Object

An object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives the action of a verb or is affected by a preposition. In simple terms, it’s the what or whom that the subject acts upon or relates to.

Examples:

• She read a book. (book = what she read)
• He called me. (me = whom he called)
• They live in the city. (city = object of the preposition in)

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Three Types of Objects

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How to Find the Object in a Sentence

Step 1: Identify the subject and verb.

• The cat chased the mouse.
  • Subject: The cat
  • Verb: chased

Step 2: Ask “What?” or “Whom?” after the verb.

• Chased what? → the mouse (direct object)

Step 3: Look for a second noun that answers “To whom?” or “For whom?” (indirect object).

• She gave her friend a gift.
  • Gave what? → a gift (direct object)
  • Gave to whom? → her friend (indirect object)

Step 4: Look for nouns that follow prepositions (object of preposition).

• They walked to the park.
  • Preposition: to
  • Object of preposition: the park

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3. Direct Object – The Receiver of the Action

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A Simple Story to Begin

Imagine you’re watching a tennis match. The subject is the player—the one who swings the racket. The verb is the swing itself. But the ball? That’s the direct object. Without it, the action is incomplete. The player swings, but you’re left asking, “Swings what?”

In a sentence, the direct object completes the meaning of many action verbs. It answers the question “What?” or “Whom?” after the verb.

Definition of a Direct Object

A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives the action of a transitive verb. It tells what or whom the subject acts upon.

Examples:

• She kicked the ball. (kicked what? → the ball)
• I love pizza. (love what? → pizza)
• He called his mother. (called whom? → his mother)

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How to Find the Direct Object

Step 1: Identify the subject and the verb.

• The children built a sandcastle.

Step 2: Ask “What?” or “Whom?” after the verb.

• Built what? → a sandcastle (direct object)

Step 3: The direct object is the answer.

More examples:

• The dog chased the cat. (chased whom? → the cat)
• She reads a novel every week. (reads what? → a novel)
• They elected her as captain. (elected whom? → her)

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Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs – A Crucial Distinction

Not all verbs can take a direct object.

Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on usage:

• He sang a song. (transitive → with object)
• He sang beautifully. (intransitive → no object)

Tip: If you ask “What?” after the verb and the answer is necessary for the sentence to make sense, the verb is transitive.

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Direct Object vs. Subject

In passive voice, the direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject:

• Active: The boy threw the ball. (ball = direct object)
• Passive: The ball was thrown by the boy. (ball = subject)

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Direct Object Pronouns

Pronouns used as direct objects take the objective case:

Examples:

• She called me. (not I)
• I saw him at the park.
• Please invite them.

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Direct Object in Different Sentence Structures

Simple Sentence

• She bought a car.

Compound Sentence

• She bought a car, but he sold his motorcycle. (each independent clause has its own direct object)

Complex Sentence

• She bought the car that she had always wanted. (direct object in the independent clause; the dependent clause has its own structure)

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Direct Object vs. Indirect Object

A direct object is what is acted upon; an indirect object tells to whom or for whom the action is done. Both can appear together.

• She gave me (IO) a book (DO). (She gave a book to me.)

If you see only one object, it’s almost always a direct object unless it’s part of a prepositional phrase.

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Common Mistakes with Direct Objects

1. Using a subject pronoun as a direct object
   • Incorrect: She invited I to the party.
   • Correct: She invited me to the party.
2. Using an intransitive verb with an object
   • Incorrect: She arrived the station.
   • Correct: She arrived at the station. (use a preposition)
3. Confusing the direct object with the subject in passive voice
   • In The letter was written by Maria, letter is the subject (not the direct object). The direct object from the active sentence (letter) became the subject in passive.
4. Forgetting that some verbs need an object
   • Incorrect: She described. (incomplete)
   • Correct: She described the scene.

Practice – Identify the Direct Object

For each sentence, find the direct object. If there is no direct object, write None.

1. The chef prepared a delicious meal.
2. She smiled.
3. I called him yesterday.
4. They built a sandcastle on the beach.
5. He gave his friend a gift. (Hint: there are two objects; find the direct object)
6. The movie bored me.

Answers:

1. a delicious meal (prepared what?)
2. None (intransitive verb)
3. him (called whom?)
4. a sandcastle (built what?)
5. a gift (gave what? → gift; his friend = indirect object)
6. me (bored whom?)

Why Direct Objects Matter

Understanding direct objects helps you:

• Write clearly – You’ll know which verbs need objects and which don’t.
• Use correct pronouns – You’ll choose me, him, her, us, them correctly.
• Build complex sentences – You’ll recognize how clauses connect.
• Avoid fragments – A transitive verb without an object leaves a sentence incomplete.

Summary – 3

• A direct object receives the action of a transitive verb and answers what? or whom?
• Transitive verbs require direct objects; intransitive verbs do not.
• Direct objects can be nouns, pronouns (in objective case), or noun phrases.
• In active sentences, the direct object follows the verb. In passive sentences, it becomes the subject.
• Common errors: using subject pronouns as objects, misidentifying the object in passive voice, and using intransitive verbs with objects.

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4. Indirect Object – Who or Whom Receives?

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A Simple Story to Begin

Imagine you’re at a birthday party. The subject (someone) performs an action: gave. The direct object is the thing given: a gift. But there’s someone special who receives that gift—the birthday girl. In a sentence, that special receiver is the indirect object. It answers the question “To whom?” or “For whom?” the action is done.

Without the indirect object, you’d know what was given, but not who received it. With it, the story becomes complete.

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Definition of an Indirect Object

An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb is performed. It always appears between the verb and the direct object (in active voice, without a preposition).

Examples:

• She gave me a book. (She gave a book to me.)
• He cooked us dinner. (He cooked dinner for us.)
• I sent my mother flowers. (I sent flowers to my mother.)

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How to Find the Indirect Object

Step 1: Identify the subject, verb, and direct object.

• She gave her friend a gift.

Step 2: Ask “To whom?” or “For whom?” after the verb and before the direct object.

• She gave (to whom?) → her friend (indirect object)
• She gave a gift (direct object)

Step 3: The indirect object is the noun/pronoun that answers that question.

More examples:

• He bought his daughter a bicycle. (bought for whom? → his daughter)
• The teacher assigned the students homework. (assigned to whom? → the students)
• Can you lend me your pen? (lend to whom? → me)

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The Indirect Object’s Position and Relationship

Position
In an active sentence, the indirect object always comes before the direct object:

• Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

If the indirect object comes after the direct object, it usually requires a preposition (to or for):

• She gave a gift to her friend. (here her friend is object of preposition, not an indirect object)

Relationship with Direct Object
The indirect object and direct object often appear together. The indirect object answers to/for whom the direct object is given.

• He told me (IO) a story (DO).
• I bought her (IO) a necklace (DO).

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Verbs That Commonly Take Indirect Objects

Many verbs of giving, telling, showing, sending, offering, buying, making, etc. can take an indirect object.

Common verbs:

• give, send, lend, offer, tell, show, teach, buy, make, cook, get, bring, write, read, pass

Examples:

• She gave her friend a gift.
• He told me a secret.
• I wrote my grandmother a letter.
• They made us dinner.

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Indirect Object Pronouns

Pronouns used as indirect objects take the objective case—the same form as direct objects:

Examples:

• She gave me a book. (IO = me)
• He sent her flowers. (IO = her)
• Please tell us the truth. (IO = us)

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Indirect Object vs. Object of a Preposition

An indirect object can often be rewritten as a prepositional phrase beginning with to or for. When you do that, the noun/pronoun is no longer an indirect object—it becomes the object of a preposition.

Both forms are grammatically correct. The choice depends on style and emphasis.

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Common Mistakes

1. Using a subject pronoun as an indirect object
   • Incorrect: She gave I a gift.
   • Correct: She gave me a gift.
2. Placing the indirect object incorrectly
   • Incorrect: She gave a book me. (the indirect object must come before the direct object without a preposition)
   • Correct: She gave me a book. OR She gave a book to me.
3. Using a preposition with both the indirect object and the object of preposition
   • Incorrect: She gave to me a book. (if using to, the structure becomes prepositional phrase, not indirect object)
   • Correct: She gave me a book. OR She gave a book to me.
4. Thinking every to/for phrase contains an indirect object
   • In I walked to the park, to the park is a prepositional phrase of location, not an indirect object. Indirect objects only occur with transitive verbs that involve giving, telling, etc.

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Practice – Identify the Indirect Object

For each sentence, find the indirect object (IO) and the direct object (DO). If there is no indirect object, write None.

1. She told her friend a secret.
2. He bought me a gift.
3. I sent an email to my boss.
4. The teacher gave the students homework.
5. Can you lend me your car?
6. She cooked dinner for us.
7. He showed his parents the photographs.

Answers:

1. IO: her friend; DO: a secret
2. IO: me; DO: a gift
3. IO: None (the phrase to my boss is object of preposition, not indirect object)
4. IO: the students; DO: homework
5. IO: me; DO: your car
6. IO: None (the phrase for us is object of preposition)
7. IO: his parents; DO: the photographs

Why Indirect Objects Matter

Understanding indirect objects helps you:

• Construct sentences with clarity – You’ll know how to express who receives what.
• Use pronouns correctly – You’ll avoid errors like “gave I” or “sent she”.
• Vary your sentence structure – You can choose between the indirect object pattern and the prepositional phrase pattern for stylistic effect.
• Understand grammar in other languages – Many languages use indirect objects extensively; mastering them in English builds a foundation for language learning.

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5. Object of a Preposition – The Companion After the Preposition

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A Simple Story to Begin

Imagine you’re giving someone directions. You say, “Go to…” and then you pause. Your listener waits. “To… where?” You finally say, “Go to the library.” Ah, now the direction makes sense. The word library is the target of the preposition to—it completes the idea.

In a sentence, a preposition (like in, on, at, to, for, with, about) needs a partner—a noun or pronoun—to form a meaningful phrase. That partner is the object of the preposition.

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Definition of an Object of a Preposition

An object of a preposition is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that follows a preposition and completes its meaning. Together, the preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase.

Examples:

• The book is on the table. (preposition: on; object: the table)
• She walked with him. (preposition: with; object: him)
• They talked about the weather. (preposition: about; object: the weather)

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How to Find the Object of a Preposition

Step 1: Identify the preposition.
Common prepositions: in, on, at, to, for, with, by, about, between, among, during, without, after, before, under, over, etc.

Step 2: Look for the noun or pronoun immediately after (or closely following) the preposition.

• She arrived at the station.
  • Preposition: at → Object: the station

Step 3: The entire prepositional phrase consists of the preposition + its object (+ any modifiers).

• He lives in a small, quiet town.
  • Preposition: in → Object: town (with modifiers a small, quiet)

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Object of a Preposition vs. Direct/Indirect Object

It’s easy to confuse these three types of objects. Here’s how they differ:

Sometimes a noun that could be an indirect object appears as an object of a preposition instead:

• She gave me a book. (indirect object)
• She gave a book to me. (object of preposition to)

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Common Prepositions and Their Objects

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Object of a Preposition Pronouns

Pronouns that serve as objects of prepositions must be in the objective case:

Examples:

• This gift is for me. (not I)
• She sat next to him. (not he)
• Between you and me, I think it’s a secret. (not you and I)

Common error: Between you and I is incorrect because between is a preposition and requires object pronouns (me, not I).

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Object of a Preposition in Different Sentence Positions

Prepositional phrases can appear in various places within a sentence. The object of the preposition remains the noun/pronoun inside that phrase.

• Beginning of sentence: In the morning, I drink coffee.
  • Preposition: In → Object: the morning
• Middle of sentence: The book on the shelf is mine.
  • Preposition: on → Object: the shelf
• End of sentence: She is someone I can rely on.
  • Preposition: on → Object: (implied “whom”)

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Prepositions with Multiple Objects

A preposition can have a compound object—two or more nouns or pronouns joined by a conjunction.

• She spoke to Rohan and Sohan. (objects: Rohan, Sohan)
• This is between you and me. (objects: you, me)
• He is responsible for the design, the budget, and the timeline. (objects: design, budget, timeline)

Common Mistakes

1. Using a subject pronoun after a preposition
   • Incorrect: This is for he and I.
   • Correct: This is for him and me.
2. Confusing the object of a preposition with the subject
   • Incorrect: Between you and I, the project is behind schedule.
   • Correct: Between you and me, the project is behind schedule.
3. Mistaking an indirect object for an object of a preposition
   • She gave me a book. → me is indirect object (no preposition).
   • She gave a book to me. → me is object of preposition to.
4. Ending a sentence with a preposition (stylistic consideration)
   • Formal: To whom did you speak?
   • Informal: Who did you speak to?
     In informal English, ending with a preposition is acceptable. The object (whom/who) is still the object of the preposition.

Practice – Identify the Object of the Preposition

For each sentence, find the preposition and its object(s).

1. She walked through the park.
2. The gift is for you.
3. They sat between Sarah and me.
4. He is interested in learning French.
5. We talked about the movie and the dinner.
6. This is the house that I grew up in.

Answers:

1. Preposition: through → Object: the park
2. Preposition: for → Object: you
3. Preposition: between → Objects: Sarah, me
4. Preposition: in → Object: learning French (gerund phrase as object)
5. Preposition: about → Objects: the movie, the dinner (compound)
6. Preposition: in → Object: (implied “which”) – the object is the relative pronoun; informally, the sentence ends with the preposition.

Why Objects of Prepositions Matter

Understanding objects of prepositions helps you:

• Use correct pronoun forms – You’ll consistently choose me, him, her, us, them after prepositions.
• Build clear prepositional phrases – These phrases add detail about time, place, manner, and more.
• Avoid common errors – You’ll stop saying “between you and I” and similar mistakes.
• Write more sophisticated sentences – Prepositional phrases enrich your writing.

Summary – Subtopic 5

• The object of a preposition is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that follows a preposition and completes its meaning.
• The preposition + its object = a prepositional phrase.
• Pronouns used as objects of prepositions must be in the objective case (me, him, her, us, them).
• A preposition can have a compound object (two or more).
• Common errors include using subject pronouns after prepositions (e.g., between you and I) and confusing objects of prepositions with indirect objects.

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6. Subject vs. Object Pronouns – Nominative vs. Objective Case

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A Simple Trick to Remember

If you’re ever confused about which pronoun to use, try the “Single Person Test.”
Sentences often trip us up when there are two people involved (e.g., “He and I” vs. “Him and me”).

Example: Should you say “He and I went to the store” or “Him and me went to the store”?
Test: Remove the other person.

• Would you say “Him went”? No.
• Would you say “I went”? Yes.
  So, the correct choice is: He and I went to the store.

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Nominative Case (Subject Pronouns)

These pronouns perform the action.
Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they

Rules for Usage:

1. As the subject of a sentence:
   • He is a doctor.
   • We are leaving.
2. After forms of the verb to be (Formal usage):
   • It is I. (more formal than “It is me”)
   • The winner was she.

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Objective Case (Object Pronouns)

These pronouns receive the action or follow a preposition.
Pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them

Rules for Usage:

1. As a direct object:
   • The dog chased him.
2. As an indirect object:
   • She gave me a book.
3. As an object of a preposition:
   • This is for us.

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Common Comparison Pitfalls

When comparing two people using than or as, the correct pronoun choice depends on the invisible verb that follows.

• Correct: He is taller than I (am).
• Correct: She runs as fast as he (runs).

In casual conversation, many people use object pronouns (“taller than me”), but in formal writing, subject pronouns are usually preferred because they act as the subject of an implied verb.

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Reflexive Pronouns (Bonus Tip)

Don’t use a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself) when a subject or object pronoun is needed.

• Incorrect: My friend and myself went to the movies.
• Correct: My friend and I went to the movies. (Subject)
• Incorrect: Give the book to myself.
• Correct: Give the book to me. (Object of Prep)

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Practice – Choose the Correct Pronoun

1. (He / Him) and her went to the party.
2. Between you and (I / me), this is a secret.
3. The teacher gave (we / us) the results.
4. She is smarter than (he / him).
5. Please invite (they / them) to the wedding.

Answers:

1. He (Single Person Test: He went)
2. me (Object of Preposition)
3. us (Indirect Object)
4. he (Formal: smarter than he is)
5. them (Direct Object)

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7. Common Confusions and Pitfalls – Beyond the Basics

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Compound Subjects and Objects – The Biggest Trap

The most common errors occur when there are multiple people in the sentence.

• Subject Trap: “Me and my friend went.”
  • Correction: “My friend and I went.” (Use the Single Person Test)
• Object Trap: “This is a secret for you and I.”
  • Correction: “This is a secret for you and me.” (Use the Single Person Test: for me)

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Passive Voice Confusion

In passive sentences, the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence.

• Active: The storm destroyed the house. (House is the direct object)
• Passive: The house was destroyed by the storm. (House is now the subject)
  Don’t confuse the doer of the action (storm) with the subject of the sentence (house).

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Who vs. Whom

This is a classic subject vs. object struggle.

• Who: Subject pronoun (replaces he/she/it/they).
• Whom: Object pronoun (replaces him/her/it/them).

Trick: Ask the question.

• Who/Whom called? → He called. So use Who.
• Who/Whom did you call? → I called him. So use Whom.

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Gerunds and Objects

Nouns and pronouns coming before a gerund (an -ing word acting as a noun) should usually be in the possessive case, not the objective case.

• Incorrect: I was surprised at him leaving.
• Correct: I was surprised at his leaving. (Possessive)

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Practice – Fix the Errors

1. Him and his brother are coming.
2. Let’s keep this between you and I.
3. The ball was caught by he.
4. Whom is knocking at the door?
5. The manager gave a bonus to she.

Answers:

1. He and his brother...
2. ...between you and me.
3. ...caught by him.
4. Who is knocking...
5. ...gave a bonus to her.

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Final Checklist for Subjects and Objects

1. Find the verb first.
2. Ask who/what performed it (Subject).
3. Ask what/whom received it (Direct Object).
4. Ask to/for whom it was done (Indirect Object).
5. Identify any prepositions and their targets (Object of Preposition).
6. Check your pronouns: use Nominative for subjects, Objective for objects.
7. When in doubt, use the Single Person Test.

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