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indirect object
noun
- a word or group of words representing the person or thing with reference to which the action of a verb is performed, in English generally coming between the verb and the direct object and paraphrasable as the object of a preposition, usually to or for, following the direct object, as the boy in He gave the boy a book.
indirect object
noun
- grammar a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase indicating the recipient or beneficiary of the action of a verb and its direct object, as John in the sentence I bought John a newspaper Compare direct object
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Notes
Indirect objects can often take or suggest the preposition to . For example, “He showed (to) me the book.”
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Word History and Origins
Origin of indirect object1
First recorded in 1875–80
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Compare Meanings
How does indirect object compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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