Indirect object

I hit the ball (d. obj.) with a bat (ind. obj.)

Majib brought the idol a sacrifice.
Don Giovanni served the statue a fancy dinner.
Every day the children pledge allegiance to the flag.

jon8Is it possible for an indirect object to be an inanimate thing?

Possible, but rare.

Give those shoes a good polishing!

CJ

Michaeln R I hit the ball (d. obj.) with a bat (ind. obj.)

I would not say that 'a bat' was an indirect object there.

fivejedjonI would not say that 'a bat' was an indirect object there.

Hi,

Can you kindly explain your stand. Thank you.

The indirect object is, in some way' the 'receiver' of the direct object. 'With a bat' is simply a prepositional phrase.

In 'I bought some flowers for Mary' and I gave some flowers to Mary' I consider that the two phrases I have underlined are also propositional phrases, not indirect objects. However, in that they convey the same meaning as 'Mary' in 'I bought Mary some flow

"indirect object" ~ recipient
"bat" (with a bat) is (grammatically) an instrument.

You don't have to hit someone with a violin for it to be the "instrumental case".

fivejedjonI would not say that 'a bat' was an indirect object there.

I agree.

With objects (direct, indirect), you can form a passive voice sentence with the object as grammatical subject without a change in meaning.

eg. I gave Mary a letter.
A letter was given to Mary by me. (direct object as subject)
Mary was given a