Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes an indirect object?

1. Adjective that modifies a noun

2. Noun which receives an action

3. Verb in a sentence

4. Phrase that adds detail

The correct answer is: Noun which receives an action

The identification of an indirect object as a noun that receives an action is spot on. In grammatical terms, an indirect object is a noun or noun phrase that answers the questions "to whom," "for whom," "to what," or "for what" in relation to the verb. It typically indicates to whom or for whom something is given or done, which is integral to understanding how actions in sentences are directed towards different entities. For instance, in the sentence "She gave her friend a gift," "her friend" is the indirect object because it indicates to whom the gift is given, while "a gift" serves as the direct object that receives the action of being given. This concept is fundamental in sentence structure and aids in clarifying the relationships between different elements within a sentence, highlighting the role of an indirect object in conveying meaning in communication.