Question

Which of the following statements about indirect objects is correct?

A. Pronouns ending in –self can never be used as indirect objects.
B. Every sentence with a direct object also has an indirect object.
C. It is the person or thing to or for whom the verb's action is done.
D. Indirect objects are typically positioned before the verb in the sentence.

Answer 1

C. It is the person or thing to or for whom the verb's action is done.

Option C is correct because if we look at the sentence: I bought Alex shoes. The indirect object is Alex. Alex is the person to or for whom the shoes were bought. Option A is not correct because of the sentence: He bought himself groceries. An indirect object tells who the direct object is for. In this sentence the groceries (direct object) is for himself. This proves A wrong. Option B is not correct because of the sentence: I bought groceries. The direct object is groceries and there is no indirect object. Option D is also wrong because of the previous sentences. The indirect object is almost never before the verb in the sentence.