Can a person be a direct object?

Question

Is "him" a direct object in the sentence:

"They sent him to prison."?

Several online sources claim that direct object answers the question "What?"

But it seems that it is not always the case.

A person can indeed be a direct object. – virmaior Feb 04 '14 at 09:47 — virmaior, Feb 04 '14 at 09:47
You might enjoy our sister site: [ell.se]. – Matt E. Эллен Feb 04 '14 at 12:21 — Matt E. Эллен, Feb 04 '14 at 12:21

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 04 '14 at 09:47

5

Yes, a person can certainly be the direct object.

The question it answers is "what or whom?".

See also http://www.grammaruntied.com/blog/?p=671

The direct object is the noun that receives the action of the transitive verb.

And they give an example:

The police have arrested the man who committed the robberies.

answered Feb 04 '14 at 09:47

oerkelens

36,622

Another example: In The judge sent the prison a new inmate that afternoon, the prison is the indirect object and the person the direct object. – tchrist Aug 31 '21 at 02:44

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 04 '14 at 10:01

Online grammars are not always reliable. Often they have only half the problem, often they are imprecise, and sometimes there are errors. The best is to have a reliable grammar in book form. With online grammars alone it is difficult to get insight into grammar things. After a direct object you ask: Whom or what?

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Feb 04 '14 at 10:16

0

Yes, of course. Example

we have sent him to receive a parcel/any kind of thing you may consider.

edited Feb 04 '14 at 10:16

anongoodnurse

55,278

answered Feb 04 '14 at 09:54

SagarPPanchal

123

Absolutely, but you'd need an article before the 'parcel' bit :) – Leon Conrad Feb 04 '14 at 10:10

Can a person be a direct object?

3 Answers3