What term refers to the object that receives the direct action of the verb?

The term that refers to the object that receives the direct action of the verb is known as the direct object. In a sentence, the direct object typically answers the questions "what?" or "whom?" regarding the action of the verb. For example, in the sentence "She kicked the ball," "ball" is the direct object because it is the entity that is being acted upon by the verb "kicked." Identifying the direct object is essential for understanding the structure of a sentence and its meaning, as it directly contributes to the action described by the verb.