The verb is always an action verb . Another way of saying it is that the subject does the verb to the direct object. To find the direct object , say the subject and verb followed by whom or what. Tree answers the question so tree is the direct object. If nothing answers the question whom or what , you know that there is no direct object.
Nothing answers the question so the sentence has no direct object .
The direct object must be a noun or pronoun. A direct object will never be in a prepositional phrase. Find the subjects, verbs, predicate nominatives, and direct objects in these sentences. In the woods the rain came down in torrents. Jim will be waiting for you at the mall.