Understanding transitive verbs and intransitive verbs is important for learning English. These two types of verbs show how actions happen in sentences. Let’s look at what each one means and see some examples.
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What Are Transitive Verbs?
Transitive Verbs are action verbs that require a direct object to complete their meaning. This means that the action is being done to something or someone. For example, in the sentence “She kicked the ball,” the verb “kicked” is transitive because it tells us what action is being performed and what is receiving that action—the ball. Without the direct object, the sentence would be incomplete, as in “She kicked,” which leaves the reader wondering what was kicked.
List of Transitive Verbs
- Accept
- Admire
- Allow
- Ask
- Believe
- Bring
- Build
- Call
- Change
- Choose
- Clean
- Consider
- Create
- Cut
- Decide
- Discuss
- Draw
- Explain
- Find
- Finish
- Forget
- Grab
- Hear
- Hold
- Invite
- Keep
- Know
- Like
- Love
- Make
- Measure
- Notice
- Offer
- Pay
- Place
- Promise
- Prove
- Put
- Receive
- Remind
- Show
- Tell
- Think
- Train
- Trust
- Use
- Want
- Wish
- Write
- Explain
Examples of Transitive Verbs
- She eats an apple every day.
- He reads a book before bed.
- They write letters to their friends.
- Can you bring the dessert to the party?
- I saw a movie last night.
- She makes a delicious cake for her birthday.
- He tells a funny joke.
- The child throws the ball to his dog.
- The teacher teaches math to the students.
- I found my keys under the couch.
- She paints beautiful landscapes.
- He sends postcards to his family.
- They prepare a special dinner for guests.
- Can you fix the broken chair?
- I heard a strange noise last night.
- She bakes cookies for the bake sale.
- He carries the heavy boxes up the stairs.
- The manager announced the new policy to the team.
- We watched the sunset together.
- I cleaned my room yesterday.
Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs in English
What Are intransitive verbs?
Intransitive Verbs, on the other hand, do not need a direct object. These verbs can stand alone and still make sense. For instance, in the sentence “The baby cried,” the verb “cried” is intransitive because it conveys a complete action without needing any additional information. The sentence is clear and understandable, conveying that the baby performed the action of crying without directing it towards anything else.
List of Intransitive Verbs
- Arrive
- Awake
- Bark
- Become
- Belong
- Boast
- Break
- Breathe
- Burn
- Change
- Come
- Cough
- Creep
- Die
- Disappear
- Dream
- Drink
- Fall
- Faint
- Fight
- Float
- Fly
- Freeze
- Gallop
- Go
- Grow
- Hang
- Hop
- Happen
- Laugh
- Lie
- Live
- Look
- Run
- Rush
- Shine
- Sing
- Sit
- Skip
- Slide
- Sleep
- Smile
- Speak
- Stand
- Swim
- Talk
- Wait
- Walk
- Watch
- Whisper
Examples of intransitive Verbs
- The baby sleeps peacefully.
- She runs every morning.
- They arrived late to the party.
- He laughs at the funny joke.
- She cried during the movie.
- The children swim in the pool.
- The leaves fall from the trees.
- I will wait for you outside.
- They dance gracefully at the recital.
- He sits quietly in the corner.
- She goes to the gym after work.
- They talk loudly in the café.
- The sun shines brightly today.
- The dog barks at strangers.
- Something strange happened last night.
- We travel every summer.
- The sun will emerge from behind the clouds.
- He arrives early for his appointments.
- The plants grow well in the spring.
- She fainted from the heat.
Verbs That Can Be Both Transitive and Intransitive
Some verbs can be used with an object (transitive) or without an object (intransitive), depending on how they’re used in a sentence. Here are some common examples:
- Run
- Transitive: “She ran a marathon.” (What did she run? A marathon)
- Intransitive: “She ran every day.” (No object is needed)
- Eat
- Transitive: “They ate lunch.” (What did they eat? Lunch)
- Intransitive: “They ate quickly.” (No object is needed)
- Sing
- Transitive: “He sang a song.” (What did he sing? A song)
- Intransitive: “He sang loudly.” (No object is needed)
How to Identify Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Understanding transitive and intransitive verbs is simple with a few easy steps. Follow this guide to learn how to identify each type of verb with confidence!
Find the Verb
- Start by locating the main action word in the sentence (the verb). This is the word that tells you what the subject (person or thing) is doing.
Ask “What?” or “Whom?” After the Verb
- Once you find the verb, ask yourself two questions:
- “What?”
- “Whom?”
- These questions will help you see if there’s a direct object in the sentence — someone or something receiving the action.
- If you can answer “What?” or “Whom?”, then the verb is transitive. A transitive verb needs an object to make the meaning complete.
- If there’s no answer to “What?” or “Whom?”, then the verb is intransitive. An intransitive verb doesn’t need an object; it makes sense on its own.
Examples to Illustrate
- Transitive Verb Example
- Sentence: “She kicked the ball.”
- Check: The verb is “kicked.” If we ask, “Kicked what?” the answer is “the ball” (the object receiving the action). Because “kicked” has an object, it’s a transitive verb.
- Intransitive Verb Example
- Sentence: “She laughed loudly.”
- Check: The verb is “laughed.” If we ask, “Laughed what?” there’s no answer, as there is no object receiving the action. So, “laughed” is an intransitive verb.
Quick Tips for Remembering
- Transitive Verbs: These verbs need an object to complete their meaning. They typically answer “What?” or “Whom?” (e.g., “write a letter,” “eat an apple,” “watch a movie”).
- Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not need an object and can stand alone. They describe actions without a specific object (e.g., “run,” “arrive,” “laugh”).
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