Indirect Object

Test for identifying indirect objects in English

• An indirect object requires the presence of a direct object.
• An indirect object is the NP that precedes the direct object.
I passed [Kim]IObj [the ball]DObj
• Usually, an indirect object(IObj) can appear as an oblique to-PP complement
. I passed Kim the salt. -> I passed the salt to Kim.
I passed Kim the salt. -> *I passed Kim to the salt.
• Passivization:
An indirect object can be passivized, with the direct object remaining an accusative NP. If the direct object is passivized, the indirect object must appear as an oblique complement.
I passed Kim the salt. -> Kim was passed the salt.
I passed Kim the salt. -> The salt was passed *(to) Kim.

Categories and structural position

• The indirect object is an NP in accusative case
• It is a sister of V and NP and dominated by a VP.

Example:

             _S_
            /   \
           /     AuxP
          /     /    \
       subj    /   ___VP___
        /     /   /  \     \
       /     /   / ind.obj dir.obj
      /     /   /    |       \
    NP   Aux   V    NP      __NP__
   /__\   |    |   /__\    /______\
   Pat  will pass  Kim     the salt.

1. The predicate
   
2. The subject
   
3. The complements
   
   1. The direct object
      
   2. The indirect object
      
   3. The predicative complement
      
   4. The oblique complement
      
4. Modifiers (Adjuncts)
   

  ← Direct Object        ↑ Grammatical Functions          → Predicate Complement