Which word in the sentence is the direct object? My family grows vegetables in our small backyard garden.

a. vegetables

b. backyard

c. family

d. garden

A. vegetables.

This is the direct object in the sentence.

Direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.

It answers the questions what? and whom?

In this case, the verb is grows. What grows? Answer: vegetables.

The verb that is used in this sentence is called transitive verb. A verb is only called transitive when it is; 1, an action verb and 2, it has a direct object.