"A direct object" she explained "will follow a transitive verb, which is a type of action verb. A direct object can be noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause. If you can identify the subject and verb in a sentence, finding the direct object, providing there is one, should be easy. Just remember, put a subject and a verb together, and the what or who that follows is the direct object. For example, Matthew and Cindy played soccer. The subjects are Matthew and Cindy, the verb is played and the direct object is Soccer".
She paused and looked around the room.
"Okay, who can give me a sentence with a direct object?" she asked.
Paul raised his hand.
"Paul?"
"I think you're the best teacher in the whole school!" Paul stated.
"Why, thank you, Paul" replied Miss O'Neill "but what is the direct object?"
Paul answered
Spoiler:
