L7 Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

* What is a transitive verb?*

A transitive verb is an action verb which requires a direct object.

In a complete sentence containing a verb, you have a subject. The subject is the part of the sentence that is acting, thinking or being. The subject is what the sentence is about. The object, however, is the thing or person that is acted or thought upon. It’s the thing that the subject acts with or onto.

For example: Linda hates cheese. 

In this sentence, the subject is ‘Linda’. The verb is ‘hates’. The object of the sentence, the thing the subject is thinking about or acting upon, is ‘cheese’.

* What is an intransitive verb?*

Intransitive verbs are those action verbs which don’t have an object. 

Some sentences in English do not require a direct object, either because the object is understood, (for example, when I say “I ate” it is assumed that what I ate is ‘food’), or because there is no object (for example, “I slept”. When I sleep, there is nothing that I need to be doing the sleep to). 

Multiple Choice

We clean our room every day.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

We lived in Mexico for two years.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

She slept for eight hours.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

He gave the book to the teacher.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

I worked all night.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

Jim owed his landlord $450.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

My new car cost me a small fortune.

• Transitive
• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

When they call from the charity, Mrs. Alpert always gives generously.

•      Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

What type of verb does the following sentence have?

"Olivia and Carol laughed"

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

What type of verb does the following sentence have?

"Alex ate a cheeseburger"

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

What type of verb does the following sentence have?

“My father drives very carefully”

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

Intransitive verbs have no object.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Transitive verbs have an object.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

I received your letter in the morning.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Choice

Dad cooked hamburgers and hot dogs.

• Transitive

• Intransitive