dobjets

Dobjets is a term that appears in some linguistic discussions to denote the direct objects of verbs. It refers to the noun phrase or pronoun that directly receives the action of a transitive verb, forming a core element of predicate-argument structure alongside the subject.

The form of the term and its exact usage vary by language and annotation framework. In some French-language or multilingual corpora, dobjets may be encountered as a shorthand or concatenated form related to objets directs or d’objets; however, standard grammar typically uses the expression objet direct. In cross-linguistic studies, dobjets are contrasted with indirect objects and subjects to analyze transitivity and argument marking.

In syntactic analysis, dobjets are typically identified through their syntactic position, agreement patterns, or case-marking, depending on the language. In languages with rich inflection, direct objects may bear specific case endings; in others, they are indicated by word order and prepositions. The concept helps describe how different languages encode the same semantic role of the entity that directly undergoes the action.

Examples help illustrate dobjets in use. In French: Je vois Pierre. Pierre is the dobjets (the direct object) of voir. In English: I see a dog. The direct object is “a dog.” This illustrates how the direct object plays a central role in transitive verbs across languages, even as its formal marking varies.

See also: direct object, object (grammar), transitivity.