Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs in English

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

Example Sentences 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. Understanding the difference can help improve both writing and speaking skills.

Examples of Verbs That Can Be Both

Below, you will find examples of verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on how they are used.

1. Run

Transitive: She ran a marathon.

(What did she run? A marathon)
✅ Correct: “She ran a marathon.”

Intransitive: She ran every day.

(No object is needed)
✅ Correct: “She ran every day.”

2. Eat

Transitive: They ate lunch.

(What did they eat? Lunch)
✅ Correct: “They ate lunch.”

Intransitive: They ate quickly.

(No object is needed)
✅ Correct: “They ate quickly.”

3. Sing

Transitive: He sang a song.

(What did he sing? A song)
✅ Correct: “He sang a song.”

Intransitive: He sang loudly.

(No object is needed)
✅ Correct: “He sang loudly.”

How to Identify Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Learning to identify transitive and intransitive verbs is easy when you know what to look for. Follow this guide to learn how to determine each type with a few simple steps!

Step 1: Find the Verb

Locate the main action word in the sentence, which is the verb. This word shows what the subject (person or thing) is doing.

Step 2: Ask “What?” or “Whom?” After the Verb

Once you’ve found the verb, ask these questions to determine if there is a direct object:

What?
Whom?

These questions help you see if there is an object affected by the action. If you can answer one of these questions, the verb is transitive. If there is no answer, it is intransitive.

Transitive Verbs need an object to complete their meaning.
Intransitive Verbs do not need an object and make sense on their own.

Transitive Verb Example

She kicked the ball.

The verb is kicked. If we ask, “Kicked what?” the answer is the ball (the object affected by the action). Therefore, kicked is a transitive verb. ✅

Intransitive Verb Example

She laughed loudly.

The verb is laughed. If we ask, “Laughed what?” there is no answer, as there is no object affected by the action. This makes laughed an intransitive verb. ✅

Quick Tips for Remembering

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs need an object to complete their meaning.

Examples:

She wrote a letter. ✅
They watched a movie. ✅
He eats an apple. ✅

Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs do not need an object and can stand alone.