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Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

1) Verbs can be classified as transitive or intransitive based on whether they require an object to express a complete thought. Transitive verbs require an object to transfer their action to, while intransitive verbs do not need an object. 2) Some examples of transitive verbs provided are "carry", "throw", "phone", and "love", which all require objects to complete their meaning. Intransitive verbs like "jump", "run", and "sing" do not need objects and can stand alone or end a sentence. 3) Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on whether they are used with an object or not in a sentence. The presence or

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315 views5 pages

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

1) Verbs can be classified as transitive or intransitive based on whether they require an object to express a complete thought. Transitive verbs require an object to transfer their action to, while intransitive verbs do not need an object. 2) Some examples of transitive verbs provided are "carry", "throw", "phone", and "love", which all require objects to complete their meaning. Intransitive verbs like "jump", "run", and "sing" do not need objects and can stand alone or end a sentence. 3) Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on whether they are used with an object or not in a sentence. The presence or

Uploaded by

Paola Panniura
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Transitive and Intransitive

Verbs—What’s the
Difference?
Catherine Traffis
BASICS

A verb can be described


as transitive or intransitive based on whether it
requires an object to express a complete thought or
not. A transitive verb is one that only makes sense if it
exerts its action on an object. An intransitive verb will make
sense without one. Some verbs may be used both ways.

The word transitive often makes people think of transit, which


leads to the mistaken assumption that the
terms transitive and intransitive are just fancy ways of
describing action and nonaction. But these terms have
nothing to do with whether a verb is active or not. A better
word to associate when you see transitive is transfer.
A transitive verb needs to transfer its action to something or
someone—an object. In essence, transitive means “to affect
something else.”

Once you have this concept committed to memory, spotting


the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs is
quite easy.

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How to Identify a Transitive Verb

Transitive verbs are not just verbs that can take an object;


they demand objects. Without an object to affect, the
sentence that a transitive verb inhabits will not seem
complete.

Please bring coffee.

In this sentence, the verb bring is transitive; its object


is coffee, the thing that is being brought. Without an object of
some kind, this verb cannot function.

Please bring.

Bring what, or who? The question begs itself because the


meaning of bring demands it.

Here are some more examples of transitive verbs and their


objects.

The girls carry water to their village.


Juan threw the ball.

Could you phone the neighbors?

I caught a cold.

She loves rainbows.

Lila conveyed the message.


Each of the verbs in these sentences have objects that
complete the verbs’ actions. If the objects were taken out, the
results would be illogical and questions would be raised in the
mind of the reader; for example, Lila conveyed. Conveyed
what?

How to Identify an Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb is the opposite of a transitive verb: it


does not require an object to act upon.

They jumped.
The dog ran.

She sang.

A light was shining.

None of these verbs require an object for the sentence to


make sense, and all of them can end a sentence. Some
imperative forms of verbs can even make comprehensible
one-word sentences.

Run!
Sing!

A number of English verbs can only be intransitive; that is,


they will never make sense paired with an object. Two
examples of intransitive-only verbs are arrive and die. You
can’t arrive something, and you certainly can’t die something;
it is impossible for an object to follow these verbs.
Transitive or Intransitive? Some Verbs
Can Be Both

Many verbs can be classified as both transitive and


intransitive depending on how they are used in a sentence.

Urged by the others, she sang.


She sang the national anthem at the hockey game.

After he cleaned up, he left.

He left the gift on the table.

To decide whether the verb is being used transitively or


intransitively, all you need to do is determine whether the
verb has an object. Does she sing something? Does he leave
something? The verb is only transitive when the answer is
yes.

When in doubt, look it up. In the dictionary, verbs will be listed


as transitive, intransitive, or both right under the
pronunciation key, and any possible differences in meaning
between the two uses will be given as well.

Phrasal Verbs and Transitivity

Phrasal verbs can also be classified as transitive or


intransitive.

Cindy has decided to give up sweets while she diets.


I hope Cindy doesn’t give up.

Give up is just one of many phrasal verbs that can be


transitive or intransitive. Whether give up has an object or not
will alter the meaning it conveys. The first sense of give
up means “to forgo something,” whereas the second sense
means “to stop trying.”

If we refuse to learn about transitivity, the Grammar Police will blow


up our building.
When the Grammar Police confronted her about her verbs, she blew
up.

The first sense of to blow up means to explode, whereas the


second sense means “to express rage.”

Transitive or intransitive is just one of the many


classifications a verb can have. Perhaps you will be inspired
to read about more about the fascinating qualities of verbs. 

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