Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

​Transitive Verbs

​A transitive verb has two characteristics.

​

First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like kick, want, paint, write, eat, clean, etc.

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Second, it must have a direct object, something or someone who receives the action of the verb.

​

​*Add "what" or "whom" at the end. If there is something to answer the question, it is Transitive. NOT "WHERE".

​Transitive Verbs

​This is the pattern for transitive verbs:

Subject + Action Verb + Direct Object

​Here's an example

​Sylvia kicked Juan under the table.

​

Kicked = transitive verb; Juan = direct object (the person that Sylvia, the subject, kicked).

​

• ​This is transitive because the verb, kicked, occurs to a thing or person.

​Intransitive Verbs

​An intransitive verb has two characteristics.

​

First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like arrive, go, lie, sneeze, sit, die, etc.

​

Second, unlike a transitive verb, it will not have a direct object receiving the action.

​

​Here's an example

​Huffing and puffing, we arrived at the classroom door with only seven seconds to spare.

​

​

• This is intransitive ​because the verb, arrived, isn't being performed on/to anything or anyone.

Let's try a few. ​

Multiple Choice

Mr. Hansen went to the mall food court for a steaming bowl of squid eyeball stew.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

Multiple Choice

To escape the midday sun, the cats lie in the shade under our cars.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

Multiple Choice

Martin wants a smile from Leodine, his beautiful but serious lab partner.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

Multiple Choice

Around fresh ground pepper, Mr. Sims sneezes with violence.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

Multiple Choice

Mr. Pralle painted the canvas in Jackson Pollock fashion, dribbling bright colors from a heavily soaked brush.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

Multiple Choice

Mr. Knobbe wrote a love poem on a restaurant napkin.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

Multiple Choice

In the evenings, Glenda sits on the front porch to admire her immaculate lawn.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

Multiple Choice

Flipped on its back, the beetle that Clara soaked with insecticide dies under the refrigerator.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object.

​It answers "where", but not "what" or "whom"

Multiple Choice

Ms. Cox will eat lima beans drenched in brown gravy.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?

Multiple Choice

Pinky the poodle cleans the dirty supper dishes with his tongue before Grandma loads the "prewashed" items into the dishwasher.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

​Transitive because it answers "what" or "whom"

​What does the verb answer?