subject verb object

We've talked about subject and verb before in What is a sentence?

Today we'll expand on that. 

To find the object in a sentence, if it has one, first you need to find the subject and verb. Remember not all sentences have an object, but all statement sentences have a subject and a verb.

Mary likes chocolate.

Verb = likes

Subject (the person or thing doing the verb)= Mary

Object (ask what does Mary like?) = chocolate.

Andy and his wife bought a beautiful old house.

Verb = bought

Subject (who bought?)= Andy and his wife

Object (what did Andy and his wife buy?) = a beautiful old house

My dog Titch chased a cat today in the park.

Verb = chased

Subject = my dog Titch

Object = a cat
(today is an adverb of time and in the park an adverbial phrase of place)

Firemen rescued a frightened horse from a disused swimming pool.
Verb = rescued

Subject = firemen

Object  = a frightened horse

The government could force companies to make our food healthier.
Verb = could force
Subject = the government
Object = companies

Test yourself

Find the object

1. Cows eat grass.
2. Thieves stole lead from the church roof.
3. The children saw lots of animals at the zoo.
4. The train is leaving the station.
5. John ate all of his dinner.
6. The gas fire heats the room efficiently.
7. Dreaming eases painful memories.

Answers

1. grass
2. lead
3. lots of animals
4. the station
5. all of his dinner
6. the room
7. painful memories

Understanding rules about subject (=nominative) and object (accusative) is important when learning other languages such as German.