An action verb shows action. Some action verbs transfer action to an object. If a verb transfers action to a direct object, that sentence might also have an indirect object.
Here are sentences with a direct object.
Bob threw the ball. The word ball is a direct object that receives the throwing action.
Mrs. Smith read a story. The word story is a direct object that receives the reading action.
Mom baked a cake. The word cake is a direct object that receives the baking action.
We can add an indirect object to each of these sentences. The indirect object goes in between the verb and the direct object. Look at the highlighted indirect object in each sentence below.
Bob threw Jack the ball.
Mrs. Smith read Johnny a story.
Mom baked me a cake.
An indirect object goes between the verb and the direct object and indirectly receives the action of the verb.
▶Now you try it. Find the indirect object in this sentence: Dad wrote Billy a letter. Did you figure out who is between the verb and the direct object and indirectly receives the action? Good for you!