Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

What must a transitive verb always have to complete its meaning?

• A subject

• A direct object

• An adverb

• A prepositional phrase

Answer explanation

A transitive verb is a verb that transfers its action to something or someone, which is called the direct object. The other elements are not required for a verb to be considered transitive.

True or False: An intransitive verb makes sense without needing a noun or pronoun to receive its action.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is the definition of an intransitive verb; it expresses a complete thought without a direct object. For example, in 'The baby slept,' the action doesn't transfer to anything.

In the sentence, 'My dog chased the squirrel,' which word is the direct object?

• dog

• chased

• the

• squirrel

Answer explanation

The direct object answers the question 'what?' or 'whom?' after the verb; the dog chased what? The squirrel. Therefore, 'squirrel' is the direct object receiving the action of the verb 'chased'.

Complete the sentence with a phrase that keeps the verb 'runs' intransitive: My friend Maya _____.

• the store

• a quick errand

• every morning before school

• the whole operation

Answer explanation

The phrase 'every morning before school' is a set of adverbs telling when and where Maya runs, but it is not a direct object receiving the action. The other options are all direct objects that would make the verb 'runs' transitive.

Which sentence contains a transitive verb?

• The crowd cheered loudly.

• My little brother grew taller over the summer.

• We ate pizza for dinner.

• The birds flew south.

Answer explanation

This sentence has a transitive verb because 'ate' has a direct object, 'pizza' (we ate what? pizza). The verbs in the other sentences are intransitive as they don't have direct objects.

True or False: In the sentence 'She walked to the library,' the word 'library' is the direct object.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The word 'library' is the object of the preposition 'to,' not the direct object of the verb 'walked'. Intransitive verbs are often followed by prepositional phrases, which can be confused with direct objects.

The verb 'played' can be transitive or intransitive. In which sentence is 'played' used as a transitive verb?

• The team played with great enthusiasm.

• The children played outside all afternoon.

• My cousin played the guitar beautifully.

• We played until the sun went down.

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'played' is transitive because it has a direct object: 'the guitar' (played what?). In the other sentences, 'played' is intransitive because it is followed by prepositional phrases or adverbs, not direct objects.

Fill in the blank to create a sentence with a standard Subject-Verb-Object pattern: The author _____.

• writes in her journal

• writes very eloquently

• wrote a new mystery novel

• writes for a living

Answer explanation

This option provides a direct object ('a new mystery novel') that receives the action of the verb 'wrote,' creating the S-V-O pattern. The other options use adverbs or prepositional phrases, which do not create an S-V-O structure.

Which sentence has a direct object and not a subject complement?

• The soup tastes delicious.

• My dad is a great cook.

• The chef prepared the meal.

• I feel tired today.

Answer explanation

The verb 'prepared' is an action verb with a direct object, 'the meal' (prepared what?). The other sentences use linking verbs ('tastes', 'is', 'feel') followed by subject complements that describe the subject.

True or False: The sentence 'My grandma sent me a package' contains two objects: an indirect object and a direct object.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This sentence shows a ditransitive pattern; 'package' is the direct object (sent what?) and 'me' is the indirect object (to whom?). A verb with both an indirect and direct object is transitive.