An indirect object is only used in a sentence that already has a direct object. Action is transferred indirectly to an indirect object.
Look at this example of a direct object: John threw the ball.
The noun ball receives the throwing action, so ball is the direct object.
Now we will add another noun to this sentence. John threw Larry the ball.
We added the noun Larry in between the action verb and the direct object.
Larry is an indirect object. Larry indirectly receives the throwing action.
The word ball is still the direct object.
Here is another example: Mom baked a cake.
The noun cake is the direct object. Cake directly receives the action.
Let’s add another noun between the verb (baked) and the direct object (cake).
Mom baked Daddy a cake.
Daddy is the indirect object. Daddy is in between the verb and the direct object. Daddy indirectly receives the action.
Always use a noun for an indirect object. The indirect object sits between the verb and the direct object and indirectly receives the action.
▶It’s your turn. Find the indirect object in this sentence: Jim showed Susan his new car. Did you find the noun between the verb and the direct object? Good for you. That’s the indirect object.