TRANSITIVE / INTRANSITIVE VERBS

TRANSITIVE / INTRANSITIVE VERBS

VERBS WITH OBJECT (TRANSITIVE VERBS)

• Transitive verbs have objects, usually noun phrases or pronouns.

• He kicked a small stone

• It hit me

• We discussed the problems.

• They affected all of us.

We use a transitive verb to describe an action that affects an object

Are they building a wall?

I'll cut the grass

Elizabeth bought an old VW.

Others include: carry, catch, fix, heat, prepare, protect, rob, scratch, sell, trim.

We use a transitive verb to describe a feeling or experience caused by an object.

• Did you enjoy the concert?

• One of out old teachers remembered us.

• I don't like onions.

• Others include: admire, believe, fear, hate, hear, love, need, please, prefer, receive.

Only transitive verbs can be used in the passive

• Someone stole my bag.

• My bag was stolen.

• They caught the thief.

• The thief was caught.

We usually use a prepositional phrase after the object of a transitive verb such as put

• He put the keys in the drawer.

• We crammed all our boxes into the back of Jane's car.

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QUIZ TIME

Multiple Choice

Nancy drives the car.

• SUBJECT + TRANSITIVE VERB + COMPLEMENT

• SUBJECT + INTRANSITIVE VERB

VERBS WITHOUT OBJECTS

(INTRANSITIVE VERBS)

INTRANSITIVE VERBS ARE USED WITHOUT AN OBJECT

• I can't sleep

• Everyone was waiting, but he didn't care.

• Others include: arrive, depart, disappear, happen, hesitate, occur, pause, rain.

We use intransitive verbs when we talk about simple events, actions and sounds.

• The roof collapsed.

• She sighed and yawned.

• A lot of people were screaming.

• Others include: cough, faint, fall, growl. moan, scream, shiver, sneeze.

Intransitive verbs are not used in the passive.

• The thief escaped.

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We often use prepositional phrases after intransitive verbs.

• Darwin died in 1882.

• I slept until noon.

• They are kneeling on mats and praying to God.

We often use prepositional phrases after intransitive verbs, especially verbs describing movement.

• It came from Argentina.

• let's go to bed.

• We walk to the park and then we run round it.

VERBS USED WITH AND WITHOUT OBJECTS

We can use some verbs, such as eat or read with objects

• She read his note

• I don't eat fish

• We won the match

• Do you speak English?

We can use some verbs, such as eat or read without objects

• He always reads when he's eating

• Did you win?

• She was so upset she couldn't speak.

• Others: cook, draw, dress, drink, drive, hurt, paint, spread, study, write

There are some verbs, such as die or smile, that we usually use without an object

• Miss Reynolds smiled and said she was quite certain that none of us would ever die.

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We can use some verbs, such as fight or meet, with objects

• When I met Sergio in Madrid, he embraced me like a brother.

• John had to fight two thugs.

We can also use them without objects.

• We met in Rome.

• our fingers touched.

• They hugged and kissed.

QUIZ TIME

Are you ready?

Multiple Choice

My parents play the piano

• transitive

• intransitive

Multiple Choice

We are reading.

• transitive

• intransitive

Multiple Choice

Don't forget to return those books

• transitive

• intransitive

Multiple Choice

Sarah returned home after her trip to Europe.

• transitive

• intransitive

Multiple Choice

How fast can you run?

• transitive

• intransitive