Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs
Transitive Verbs	Intransitive Verbs
Require an object to make complete sense of the action being referred to.	Does not require an object to complete the sentence or make sense of the action being referred to.
Transitive verbs occur in sentences that follow the SVO, SVIODO, SVOC, SVOA, ASVO patterns.	Intransitive verbs usually occur in sentences with the pattern ASVC, SV, SVC, ASVA and so on.
A sentence that uses a transitive verb can be changed into a passive voice.	A sentence that makes use of an intransitive verb cannot be altered to form the passive voice.
Transitive verbs are followed by an indirect object or a direct object.	Intransitive verbs are followed by either an adjunct or a complement.

How to identify a Transitive verb?

Transitive verbs are verbs that need objects to make sense. They’re not just actions; they need something to act upon. For instance, when I say “Please bring coffee,” the word “bring” is a transitive verb because it needs an object, which is “coffee,” to complete its meaning. Without the object, the sentence feels incomplete.

Here are more examples:

• The girls carry water to their village.
• Juan threw the ball.
• Could you phone the neighbors?
• I caught a cold.
• She loves rainbows.
• Lila conveyed the message.

In each of these sentences, the verbs have objects that give them meaning. If you remove the objects, the sentences become confusing. For example, if we take out “the message” from “Lila conveyed the message,” it would just be “Lila conveyed.” But conveyed what? It doesn’t make sense without the object completing the action.

How to identify an Intransitive verb?

An intransitive verb doesn’t need an object to make sense in a sentence. For instance, “They jumped,” “The dog ran,” “She sang,” and “A light was shining” are all examples. These verbs stand alone and don’t need anything or anyone to act upon.

Some verbs, like “arrive” and “die,” are intransitive-only. You can’t “arrive” something or “die” something because they don’t work with objects. For example, “He arrived” and “She died” make complete sense without adding anything else.

Just think of commands like “Run!” or “Sing!” These one-word sentences show how intransitive verbs can work all by themselves without needing an object to make sense.

So, in short, intransitive verbs don’t require objects to complete their meaning, and they can stand alone in sentences without any additional parts.

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Transitive or intransitive? Some verbs can be both

Some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on how they’re used. Transitive verbs have an object, while intransitive ones don’t.

• For example, consider the verb “sing.” In the sentence “She sang,” it’s intransitive because there’s no object. But in “She sang the national anthem,” it’s transitive because “the national anthem” is the object.
• Similarly, take the verb “leave.” In “He left,” it’s intransitive because there’s no object. However, in “He left the gift,” it’s transitive because “the gift” is the object.

To figure out if a verb is transitive or intransitive, ask if there’s an object. If yes, it’s transitive; if no, it’s intransitive. If you’re unsure, consult a dictionary. It will indicate if a verb is transitive, intransitive, or both, along with any differences in meaning.

Identify Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs

Identify the verbs in the sentences below and determine whether they are transitive or intransitive:

1. Shiv bought new Jeans.
2. Lakshay laughed so hard.
3. The children passed the notebooks around.
4. I studied in London.
5. Can you bring me some apples?
6. Jackey came home in the morning.
7. Isha found the kittens in the corner of the street.
8. Roshan met his school friend at the park.
9. The bike stopped suddenly, in the middle of the road.
10. Javed loved his new bike.

Let’s check if you got your answers right.

1. Shiv bought new Jeans.– Transitive Verb
2. Lakshay laughed so hard. – Intransitive Verb
3. The children passed the notebooks around. – Transitive Verb
4. I studied in London. – Intransitive Verb
5. Can you bring me some apples? – Transitive Verb
6. Jackey came home in the morning. – Intransitive Verb
7. Isha found the kittens in the corner of the street. – Transitive Verb
8. Roshan met his school friend at the park. – Transitive Verb
9. The bike stopped suddenly, in the middle of the road. – Intransitive Verb
10. Javed loved his new bike. – Transitive Verb

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs FAQs

What is the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?

Transitive verbs need an object to make complete sense, while intransitive verbs do not require an object. Transitive verbs perform actions that affect something or someone, whereas intransitive verbs stand alone and do not act upon anything.

How can I identify a transitive verb?

Transitive verbs are action words that require an object to complete their meaning. You can identify them by asking if there's something or someone receiving the action in the sentence. For example, in She eats apples, the verb eats is transitive because it acts upon the object apples.

Can you provide examples of transitive verbs?

Certainly! Examples of transitive verbs include carry, throw, phone, catch, love, and convey. These verbs all require objects to make sense in a sentence.

What about intransitive verbs? How do I recognize them?

Intransitive verbs do not need objects to make sense in a sentence. You can identify them by noticing that they stand alone without acting upon anything or anyone. For instance, in They jumped, jumped is an intransitive verb because it doesn't require an object.