Structural Parts of the Predicate—Objects
Intransitive verbs are those which, like rise, make assertions the action of which does not involve any person or thing other than the subject.
Transitive verbs are those which, like light, make assertions which involve some person or thing other than the subject in the action of the verb. In the sentence He lighted the lamp, lamp is such an object.
The same verb may sometimes assert one, and sometimes the other kind of action.
The door opened.
He opened the door.
Some transitive verbs make an assertion which involves two nouns, both signifying the same thing or person.
The club elected Frank president.
Some transitive verbs make an assertion which involves two different objects or persons.
I gave Frank an apple.
She bought Frank an apple.
I told him a story.
Here apple or story is the object directly affected by the action of the verb, and is, therefore, called the direct object. Frank or him designates the person for whose benefit the action of the verb affects the direct object, and is called the indirect object.