- An indirect object tells to whom or to what or for whom or for what something is done.
- A sentence can have an indirect object only if it has a direct object.
- The indirect object usually appears after the verb and before the direct object.
The animal shelter gives stray animal protection. [The shelter gives protection to what?]
Contributions buy the shelter needed supplies. [Contributions buy supplies for what?]
- The words to and for are never used with indirect objects.
- To and for are prepositions. A noun or pronoun following to or for is actually the object of the preposition.