Noun Usage

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What is a direct object?

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A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb in a sentence. Example: In 'She kicked the ball,' 'ball' is the direct object.

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What is an indirect object?

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An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom the action of the verb is done. Example: In 'He gave her a gift,' 'her' is the indirect object.

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What is a predicate nominative?

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A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. Example: In 'She is a teacher,' 'teacher' is the predicate nominative.

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What is the object of a preposition?

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The object of a preposition is a noun or pronoun that follows a preposition and completes its meaning. Example: In 'The book is on the table,' 'table' is the object of the preposition 'on'.

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What is direct address?

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Direct address is when a speaker directly names the person they are speaking to, often set off by commas. Example: 'Lisa, can you help me?'

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What is an appositive?

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An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. Example: 'My brother, a skilled musician, plays guitar.'

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How do you identify a direct object in a sentence?

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To identify a direct object, ask 'What?' or 'Whom?' after the verb. Example: In 'She read the book,' ask 'What did she read?' The answer is 'the book,' which is the direct object.

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How do you identify an indirect object in a sentence?

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To identify an indirect object, ask 'To whom?' or 'For whom?' after the verb and direct object. Example: In 'He gave her a gift,' ask 'To whom did he give a gift?' The answer is 'her,' which is the indirect object.

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What is the difference between a direct object and an indirect object?

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A direct object receives the action of the verb, while an indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action is done. Example: In 'She gave him a book,' 'book' is the direct object and 'him' is the indirect object.

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What role does a predicate nominative play in a sentence?

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A predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject and follows a linking verb. Example: In 'The winner is John,' 'John' is the predicate nominative.