Daily Grammar Lessons Blog

An indirect object is really a prepositional phrase in which the preposition to or for is not stated but understood. It tells to whom or for whom something is done. The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object.

Example:

She gave me a gift. (indirect object)

She gave to me a gift. (prepositional phrase)

The indirect object always modifies the verb. It may have modifiers and be compound. It is used with verbs such as give, tell, send, get, buy, show, build, do, make, save, and read.

Example:

She sent the man and me a gift. (indirect object)

She gave to the man and to me a gift. (prepositional phrases)

Instructions: Find the verb, direct object, and indirect object in the following sentences.

1. Has Terri shown Jeanne and Barbara her new ring?

2. The new highway saved the travelers several miles.

3. Did the workers give the spies confidential information?

4. Will Jim get us tickets to the game?

5. I bought Ila and Jeff two big pieces of cake.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Has Terri shown Jeanne and Barbara her new ring?

2. The new highway saved the travelers several miles.

3. Did the workers give the spies confidential information?

4. Will Jim get us tickets to the game?

5. I bought Ila and Jeff two big pieces of cake.

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Monday, August 25, 2025

Lesson 191 - Parts of the Sentence - Indirect Objects

Example:

She gave me a gift. (indirect object)

She gave to me a gift. (prepositional phrase)

The indirect object always modifies the verb. It may have modifiers and be compound. It is used with verbs such as give, tell, send, get, buy, show, build, do, make, save, and read.

Example:

She sent the man and me a gift. (indirect object)

She gave to the man and to me a gift. (prepositional phrases)

Instructions: Find the verb, direct object, and indirect object in the following sentences.

1. Has your boss sent you a notice about the next convention?

2. John read his tiny nephew an exciting story.

3. Our father built the family a redwood picnic table.

4. The doctor sent me a bill for his services.

5. We gave my mother a book for her birthday.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Has your boss sent you a notice about the next convention?

2. John read his tiny nephew an exciting story.

3. Our father built the family a redwood picnic table.

4. The doctor sent me a bill for his services.

5. We gave my mother a book for her birthday.

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Quiz for Lessons 186 - 190 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

View quiz on Daily Grammar - Print Quiz

Instructions: Using all the knowledge learned in the previous lessons, find the verbs (v), subjects (subj), predicate nominatives (pn), direct objects (do), appositives (app), nouns of address (na), adjectives (adj), predicate adjectives (pa), adverbs (adv), prepositions (prep), and objects of the preposition (op) in the following sentences. If there are any adjectives, adverbs, or prepositional phrases then tell what word they modify.

1. The woman in the green suit is Martha, our favorite neighbor.

2. Oh, Grant, there is no electricity in our house now.

3. The racer ran past in a big hurry.

4. The river past our house winds down into a steep valley.

5. Come in and don't stand outside in the cold.

6. The rookie basketball player was caught off his guard.

7. The mythology stories are well-known and exciting.

8. That old shoe is well-worn and completely worthless.

9. Will you climb up the ladder and through the window and open the door for me?

10. These sentences with more concepts are becoming longer and harder.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. is = v; woman = subj; Martha = pn; neighbor = app; the = adj modifying woman; our/favorite = adj modifying neighbor; in a green suit = p ph modifying woman; in = prep; suit = op; a/green = adj modifying suit

2. is = v; electricity = subj; Grant = na; no = adj modifying electricity; now = adv modifying is; in our house = p ph modifying electricity or is; in = prep; house = op; our = adj modifying house; (oh = interjection; there = introductory there)

3. ran = v; racer = subj; the = adj modifying racer; past = adv modifying ran; in a big hurry = p ph modifying ran; in = prep; hurry = op; a/big = adj modifying hurry

4. winds = v; river = subj; the = adj modifying river; down = adv modifying winds; past our house modifying river/into a steep valley modifying winds = p ph; past/into = prep; house/valley = op; our = adj modifying house; a/steep = adj modifying valley

5. come/do stand = v; you (understood) = subj; in = adv modifying come; n't/outside = adv modifying do stand; in the cold = p ph modifying do stand; in = prep; cold = op; the = adj modifying cold

6. was caught = v; player = subj; the/rookie/basketball = adj modifying player; off his guard = p ph modifying was caught; off = prep; guard = op; his = adj modifying guard

7. are = v; stories = subj; well-known/exciting = pa; the/mythology = adj modifying stories

8. is = v; shoe = subj; well-worn/worthless = pa; that/old = adj modifying shoe; completely = adv modifying worthless

9. will climb/ (will) open = v; you = subj; door = do; the = adj modifying door; up the ladder modifying will climb/through the window modifying will climb/for me modifying will open = p ph; up/through/for = prep; ladder/window/me = op; the = adj modifying ladder; the = adj modifying window

10. are becoming = v; sentences = subj; longer/harder = pa; these = adj modifying sentences; with more concepts = p ph modifying sentences; with = prep; concepts = op; more = adj modifying concepts

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Friday, August 22, 2025

Lesson 190 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

1. Do you remember the name of the new senator from Utah?

2. Our work on the space shuttle requires all sorts of ability and knowledge.

3. The new rocket is troublesome for many nations.

4. Who painted the outside of this house before?

5. Wait for me outside.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. do remember = v; you = subj; name = do; the = adj modifying name; of the new senator modifying name/from Utah modifying senator = p ph; of/from = prep; senator/Utah = op; the/new = adj modifying senator

2. requires = v; work = subj; sorts = do; our = adj modifying work; all = adj modifying sorts; on the space shuttle modifying work/of ability and knowledge modifying sorts = p ph; on/of = prep; shuttle/ability/knowledge = op; the space = adj modifying shuttle

3. is = v; rocket = subj; troublesome = pa; the/new = adj modifying rocket; for many nations = p ph modifying troublesome; for = prep; nations = op; many = adj modifying nations

4. painted = v; who = subj; outside = do; the = adj modifying outside; before = adv modifying painted; of this house = p ph modifying outside; of = prep; house = op; this = adj modifying house

5. wait = v; you (understood) = subj; outside = adv modifying wait; for me = p ph modifying wait; for = prep; me = op

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Lesson 189 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

1. A building in ancient Rome was destroyed accidentally by an old buried bomb.

2. The welcomed blue shadows stretched across the road and the park.

3. On a hill in Hawaii stands an old bunker.

4. Bill walked along the ridge of the mountain during the snow storm.

5. This down pillow like a foam one is really soft.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. was destroyed = v; building = subj; a = adj modifying building; accidentally = adv modifying was destroyed; in ancient Rome modifying building/by an old buried bomb modifying was destroyed = p ph; in/by = prep; Rome/bomb = op; ancient = adj modifying Rome; an/old/buried = adj modifying bomb

2. stretched = v; shadows = subj; the/welcomed/blue = adj modifying shadows; across the road and the park = p ph modifying stretched; across = prep; road/park = op; the = adj modifying road; the = adj modifying park

3. stands = v; bunker = subj; an/old = adj modifying bunker; on a hill modifying stands/in Hawaii modifying hill = p ph; on/in = prep; hill/Hawaii = op; a = adj modifying hill

4. walked = v; Bill = subj; along the ridge modifying walked/of the mountain modifying ridge/during the snow storm modifying walked = p ph; along/of/during = prep; ridge/mountain/storm = op; the = adj modifying ridge; the = adj modifying mountain; the/snow = adj modifying storm

5. is = v; pillow = subj; soft = pa; this/down = adj modifying pillow; really = adv modifying soft; like a foam one = p ph modifying soft; like = prep; one = op; a/foam = adj modifying one

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Lesson 188 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

1. The defendant's lawyer was not available for comment.

2. Sherry, where have you placed my book of jokes?

3. I still live in that wood house near the railroad tracks.

4. The rooms of the office were old and musty.

5. I love everything about your idea for a party.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. was = v; lawyer = subj; available = pa; the/defendant's = adj modifying lawyer; not = adv modifying was; for comment = p ph modifying available; for = prep; comment = op

2. have placed = v; you = subj; book = do; Sherry = na; my = adj modifying book; where = adv modifying have placed; of jokes = p ph modifying book; of = prep; jokes = op

3. live = v; I = subj; still = adv modifying live; in that wood house modifying live/near the railroad tracks modifying house = p ph; in/near = prep; house/tracks = op; that/wood = adj modifying house; the/railroad =adj modifying tracks

4. were = v; rooms = subj; old/musty = pa; the = adj modifying rooms; of the office = p ph modifying rooms; of = prep; office = op; the = adj modifying office

5. love = v; I = subj; everything = do; about you idea modifying everything/for a party modifying idea = p ph; about/for = prep; idea/party = op; your = adj modifying idea; a = adj modifying party

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Lesson 187 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

1. The man with his boxes of candy stumbled and collapsed.

2. The necklace was placed in the display case in the window of the jewelry store.

3. Those immense factories on the southwest side are changing our city.

4. The man in the first car is the new governor.

5. Many of the citizens had hated the plan from the beginning.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. stumbled/collapsed = v; man = subj; the = adj. modifying man; with his boxes modifying man/of candy modifying boxes = p ph; with/of = prep; boxes/candy = op; his = adj. modifying boxes

2. was placed = v; necklace = subj; the = adj. modifying necklace; in the display case modifying was placed/in the window modifying case/of the jewelry store modifying window = p ph; in/in/of = prep; case/window/store = op; the/display = adj. modifying case; the = adj. modifying window; the/jewelry = adj. modifying store

3. are changing = v; factories = subj; city = do; those/immense = adj. modifying factories; our = adj. modifying city; on the southwest side = p ph modifying factories; on = prep; side = op; the/southwest = adj. modifying side

4. is = v; man = subj; governor = pn; the = adj modifying man; the/new = adj modifying governor; in the first car = p ph modifying man; in = prep; car = op; the/first = adj modifying car

5. had hated = v; many = subj; plan = do; the = adj modifying plan; of the citizens modifying many/from the beginning modifying had hated = p ph; of/from = prep; citizens/beginning = op; the = adj modifying citizens; the = adj modifying beginning

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Monday, August 18, 2025

Lesson 186 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

1. We are proud of our family and of their effort.

2. The dark colors from the accident stained everything by the road.

3. The teacher grabbed from her desk a new test for one of the students.

4. Into the police station staggered the wounded man.

5. The president of the company, Mr. Wright, is never wrong.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. are = verb; we = subject; proud = predicate adjective modifying we; of our family/of their
effort = prep phrases modifying proud; of/of = preposition; family/effort = objects of preposition; our = adj. modifying family; their = adj. modifying effort

2. stained = verb; colors = subject; everything = direct object; the/dark = adj. modifying colors; from the accident modifying colors/by the road modifying everything = prep phrases; from/ by = prepositions; accident/road = objects of preposition; the = adj. modifying accident; the = adj. modifying road

3. grabbed = verb; teacher = subject; test = direct object; the = adj. modifying teacher; a/new = adj. modifying test; from her desk modifying grabbed/for one modifying grabbed/of the students modifying one = prep phrases; from/for/of = prepositions; desk/one/students = object of preposition; her = adj. modifying desk; the = adj. modifying students

4. staggered = verb; man = subject; the/wounded = adj. modifying man; into the police station = prep phrase modifying staggered; into = preposition; station = object of preposition; the/police = adj. modifying station

5. is = verb; president = subject; Mr. Wright = appositive; wrong = predicate adjective; the = adj. modifying president; never = adv. modifying is; of the company = prep phrase modifying president; of = preposition; company = object of preposition; the = adj. modifying company

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Quiz for Lessons 436 - 440 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Brackets/Slash

View quiz on Daily Grammar

Instructions: Make the necessary changes in these sentences by using brackets and slashes as learned in the lessons.

1. "The bear loved the sweat honey in the tree."

2. You will need two thirds of a cup for this recipe.

3. Send the letter to me in care of my father.

4. The man saw the doctor Dr. Rymechisel on his second visit to the clinic.

5. Mr. and or Miss Smith will be at the reception.

6. I drive my car 75 miles per hour on the highway in Montana.

7. "The theif was eager to get away from the crime."

8. Mr. Reed the man with the mask is my next door neighbor.

9. I type about 40 words per minute.

10. This must have happened about 1984 or 1985.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. "The bear loved the sweat [sic] honey in the tree."

2. You will need 2/3 cup for this recipe.

3. Send the letter to me c/o my father.

4. The man saw the doctor [Dr. Rymechisel] on his second visit to the clinic.

5. Mr. and/or Miss Smith will be at the reception.

6. I drive my car 75 mi./hr. on the highway in Montana.

7. "The theif [sic] was eager to get away from the crime."

8. Mr. Reed [the man with the mask] is my next door neighbor.

9. I type about 40 words/minute.

10. This must have happened about 1984/1985.

Back to Lesson 1

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Friday, March 28, 2025

Lesson 440 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Slash

Use the slash (/) in abbreviations such as c/o (in care of) and to replace per mi./hr., words/min.

Instructions: Put slashes and abbreviations where they are needed in these sentences.

1. This car can go over 200 miles per hour.

2. My secretary types 80 words per minute.

3. Send it in care of The Boston Factory.

4. This snail moves only 3 feet per minute.

5. In Canada speed is measured in kilometers per hour.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. This car can go over 200 mi./hr.

2. My secretary types 80 words/min.

3. Send it c/o The Boston Factory.

4. This snail moves only 3 ft./min.

5. In Canada speed is measured in km./hr.

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Lesson 439 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Slash

Use a slash (/) to separate parts of a choice.

Example:

Mr./Mrs. Smith will speak to us first.

Instructions: Put slashes where they are needed in these sentences.

1. Jeff and or Jim may return by train.

2. Miss Ms. Jones is a special guest of the company.

3. Mr. Mrs. James was surely the driver of the car.

4. We and or they will be given the chance to see the bears.

5. Sir Madame Chorsky will christen the new ship.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Jeff and/or Jim may return by train.

2. Miss/Ms. Jones is a special guest of the company.

3. Mr./Mrs. James was surely the driver of the car.

4. We and/or they will be given the chance to see the bears.

5. Sir/Madame Chorsky will christen the new ship.

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Lesson 438 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Slash

Use a slash (/) to separate parts of fractions.

Examples:

2/3's (two thirds)

1/8 (one eighth)

Instructions: Replace the fractions in these sentences by using numbers with the slash.

1. We only need three quarters of a yard of that material.

2. That door is three sixteenths too long to fit.

3. You only get one-half of the money.

4. She was asleep one fourth of the time when she should have been working.

5. This must be within one sixty-fourth of an inch.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. We only need 3/4's of a yard of that material.

2. That door is 3/16's too long to fit.

3. You only get 1/2 of the money.

4. She was asleep 1/4 of the time when she should have been working.

5. This must be within 1/64 of an inch.

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Lesson 437 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Brackets

Use a bracketed sic [meaning "thus in the original"] to show that an error in quoted material is not an error in quoting, but the error was in the original text.

Example:

"i [sic] felt very bad."

(The "I" should have been capitalized.)

Instructions: Insert [sic] where needed in the following sentences.

1. "The robber put the monie in the canvas bag."

2. "I will be leaving early tommorrow by train."

3. "I wanted to kill the man because he was a Yanky."

4. "He was a nown criminal by everyone there."

5. He complained, "I ain't going."

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. "The robber put the monie [sic] in the canvas bag."

2. "I will be leaving early tommorrow [sic] by train."

3. "I wanted to kill the man because he was a Yanky [sic]."

4. "He was a nown [sic] criminal by everyone there."

5. He complained, "I ain't [sic] going."

For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Monday, March 24, 2025

Lesson 436 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Brackets

Use brackets to enclose comments, criticisms, or corrections inserted by someone other than the original writer or speaker.

Example:

Anyone who met him [the author] respected his authority.

Instructions: Place brackets where they are needed in these sentences.

1. Everyone who knew him the deceased recognized the loss to the community.

2. In his biography My Only Love he wrote about his job.

3. I think the day was the 3rd 4th that you were here.

4. The witness said, "I saw him the defendant coming out the back door."

5. With his new book The Last Day he should become a millionaire.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Everyone who knew him [the deceased] recognized the loss to the community.

2. In his biography [My Only Love] he wrote about his job.

3. I think the day was the 3rd [4th] that you were here.

4. The witness said, "I saw him [the defendant] coming out the back door."

5. With his new book [The Last Day] he should become a millionaire.