In this paper we show how two clausal syntax functions - the indirect and the prepositional objects - are explained in some grammatical descriptions of the English language, viz (Biber 1999), (Givón 1993), (Quirk 2010), (Alexander 1989), (COBUILD 2011), and (Huddleston 1984). In the first part we show the problematic points and the variety in defining the two functions and offer some of our ideas concerning their definition and analysis, while in the second part of the paper we study the criteria that the selected grammars use in describing the indirect and the prepositional objects, focusing on the following three grammars: (Alexander 1989), (COBUILD 2011), and (Huddleston 1984). We also present possible arguments in favor of the ‘prepositional verb + direct object’ analysis as opposed to the ‘verb phrase + prepositional object’ analysis.