Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Verbs can be classified as Transitive or Intransitive depending on whether they do require an object to complete their meaning.

A Transitive Verb is one that requires an object, either a noun or a pronoun or a phrase as the recipient of the action. Transitive verbs always require a Direct Object.

Transitive Verbs, in other words are action words that require an object in the sentence as the recipient of the action.

For Example:

  • I admire your honesty.
  • I deliver results.
  • I baked a cake.
  • I stitched a duvet.
  • I removed the obstacle.
  • I drove the car.

All the above examples have an object as recipient of the action and hence are examples of Transitive Verb.

Transitive Verbs may be used with a Direct and an Indirect Object both.

For Example:

·         He sent her(Indirect Object) an epistle( Direct Object).

·         Mother brought me ( Indirect Object) a pizza.( Direct Object)

List of commonly used Transitive Verbs that are followed by Direct Objects:

bring,send, owe, contain, buy, show, take, tell, verify, check, get, wash, finalize, annoy, lay , lend, offer, edit , make , phone.


Intransitive Verb: An Intransitive Verb is one that does not require an object to complete its meaning. They do not require a Direct Object to lend them sense. Many are followed by an adjective, adverb, proposition or verb complement (Gerund or Infinitive).

Intransitive Verbs, in other words, are action words that do not require an object in the sentence as recipient of the action to deliver its meaning.

List of intransitive Verbs for reference:

come, explode, laugh, sit, rise, excel, respond, run, cough, swim, emigrate, smile, act, cry, immigrate, lie, arrive, continue, die, go.

For Example:

  •   The toddler was sulking.
  • He sang continually.
  • I laughed uncontrollably.
  • I cried inconsolably.
  • The horse galloped.
  • The moon rises.

 

Ø  Now, consider the example:

·         I walked to the office today.

Is it an example of Transitive or Intransitive?

Intransitive, simply because ‘in the office’ is a prepositional phrase and ‘today’ is an adverb of time. There is no object receiving the action ‘walked’ so it is an example of Intransitive Verb.

 

Similarly, the example:

·  They ran to the park.

Though there are words which follow the action words ‘ran’ , the words do not act as Object but are in fact, prepositions and hence it again is an example of Intransitive Verb.

Ø  There are example of numerous Verbs which can function both as Transitive or Intransitive. Some verbs can take an object to clarify their meaning but do not always require the aid of one to act as an Action word. So, in one sentence they may act as Transitive and in another Intransitive.

Transitive:           The singer sang a ballad.

Intransitive:         The singer sang beautifully.

 

Transitive:           I left him a letter

Intransitive:         I left early.

 

Transitive:           Sehgal set the documents down on the Director’s desk.

Intransitive:        The sun sets.

 

Transitive:    You have grown a moustache.

Intransitive: You have grown so much since last I saw you.

 

v  Sometimes, the meaning of the verb itself undergoes a change depending on whether it is used as Transitive or Intransitive.

Example:

Transitive:          I run a small grocery store.

Intransitive:        I run in the park everyday.





English Grammar and Composition

From Transitive and Intransitive Verbs to HOME PAGE

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.


Recent Articles

  1. Eleventh Grade | Eleventh Grade Science | Eleventh Grade Math

    Jun 27, 25 12:26 AM

    Eleventh grade biology has been designed in accordance with the recommended topics. We will cover all the topics in biology very exciting and interesting way.

    Read More

  2. Explain Digestion of Food | Salivary Glands | Oesophagus | Stomach

    Jun 27, 25 12:20 AM

    Human Digestive System
    Before the digestion is start by the different enzymes secreted from the different digestive glands food must be turned and chut or mixed with saliva inside the mouth.

    Read More

  3. Explain Human Digestive System | Mouth | Tongue | Pharynx | Teeth

    Jun 21, 25 01:15 PM

    Tongue
    Digestive system is a system of alimentary canal and digestive glands. Alimentary canal- alimentary canal is a tube of variable diameter having muscular wall and glandular epithelial tissues which sta…

    Read More

  4. Vernalisation in Plants | Definition | Mechanism | Devernalization |

    Jun 18, 25 01:34 PM

    Photoperiod and Vernalisation
    Definition of vernalisation- The change of flowering habit due to the low temperature treatment is known as vernalisation. This is a physiological process which was denoted by Clipart in 1857 invite b…

    Read More

  5. The Food We Eat | Food we Get from Plants and Animals | Carbohydrates

    Jun 15, 25 03:20 PM

    Food We Eat
    What are the food that we should eat? Find out the names of ten food items in the word maze. Write the names in the correct column of the table given below. Food we get from plants Food we get from an…

    Read More