Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

 

Definition

A verb can be described as transitive or intransitive depending on the function of each in a sentence. A transitive verb requires at least one object to which it transfers its action, unlike an intransitive verb which doesn't need an object to make sense. However, there are some verbs that may be classified as both transitive and intransitive depending on their usage in a sentence.

Transitive verbs

A transitive verb fundamentally functions as the transfer of the action that a subject carries out on an object in a sentence. A transitive verb can't make sense if it doesn't transfer its action on someone or something.

Example

1. She likes ice cream.
2. Alex gives a book of grammar to Anna.
3. She kissed her mother.
4. *Katrina and Hannah met 

In the examples (1, 2, and 3) , transitive verbs ' likes', ' gives', and 'kissed' successively transfer actions to the direct objects ' ice cream', 'a book of grammar' and 'her mother'. Hence , these three sentences look grammatically correct and carry on complete thoughts. That is , they make sense to the reader.

In the example (4) , the transitive verb 'met' misses its direct object. In which, when we ask the following question: what or whom did Katrina and Hannah meet? Or who or what did the action of the verb 'meet' happen to? The answer isn't included in the sentence (4). As result, it seems grammatically incorrect, so that, in order to be correct, it may, for instance, look like: Katrina and Hannah met their brother, yesterday.

Here is a list including some examples of transitive verbs:

• answer
• love
• break
• finish
• follow
• kill
• kiss
• insert
• hurt
• change

Intransitive verbs

An intransitive verb, on the other hand, doesn't need to transfer the action to someone or something (a direct object) in order to make sense. In other words , the intransitive verb only describes an action of a verb which doesn't happen to someone or something (direct object). 

Example

1. She slept on an old bed.
2. Olivia sat by herself at the park.
3. The black cat ran away from our house.

In the examples (1and 2), the intransitive verbs 'slept' or 'sat' doesn't require to transfer action to someone or something in order to make a sentence sounds clear. In fact, it is enough to keep the expression 'she slept' or 'Olivia sat' to carry on thoughts to the reader. However, the rest of the sentences is used to add more clarification about how and where the verbs 'slept' and 'sat' happened.

In the example (3), we notice that there is an object of preposition 'our house' which together with the preposition 'to' form a prepositional phrase that shows how the verb ' ran' happened , despite that, the verb 'ran' remains intransitive, regardless of the object in the prepositional phrase ' from our house'.

Here is a list including some examples of intransitive verbs:

• go
• arrive
• cry
• fly
• laugh
• jump
• agree
• listen
• sneeze
• lie

Note:

• A verb is transitive if only there is a single word or more in a sentence answering the following question:

What or whom does the action of the verb happen to? The answer indicates someone or something receiving the action of the transitive verb.

• A verb is intransitive if only there is not a single word or more answering the question:

What or who does the action of the verb happen to? No answer

Using some verbs both as transitive or intransitive

The verbs functioning both as transitive or intransitive are called ambitransitive or ergative verbs. They are used depending on the context of the sentence where in some situations they necessarily need direct objects but in others they don't require them.

Example

1. Emma reads a novel.
2. Emma reads at the library.

In the example (1), the purpose of using the verb 'reads' is to show that the subject 'Emma' carries out the action of reading, so she requires the object 'a novel' to act upon. Hence, the verb 'reads' in this context is transitive.

In the example (2), the purpose of using the verb 'read' is to show where the action of reading happened, so it doesn't require an object to act upon. As result, the verb 'reads' in this context is intransitive.

Here is a list including some examples of verbs functioning both as transitive or intransitive:

• read
• understand
• walk
• drive
• eat
• cook
• continue
• grow
• box
• check

Exercises

Exercise (1)

What does a transitive verb do?

1. Describes a noun
2. Modifies an adverb
3. Transfers an action
4. None of the above

What does an intransitive verb do?

1. Describes an action that happens to someone or something
2. Describes an action that does not happen to someone or something
3. Describes where the action happened

How do we identify a transitive verb ?

1. By asking where did the action of the verb happen?
2. By asking why did the action of the verb happen? 
3. By asking how did the action of the verb happen?
4. By asking who or what did the action of the verb happen to?

Identify transitive and intransitive verbs among the following:

1. Listen
2. Kiss
3. Insert
4. Jump
5. Go
6. Hurt

Exercise (2) 

Identify transitive and intransitive verbs in the following sentences:

1. Yesterday, he ate on his desk in his room.
2. She eats an apple.
3. Alex changed his phone's password.
4. Rania jumps.
5. Anna and Sophia arrived late.
6. She is happy.
7. Sophia thinks that she has to visit her father tomorrow.

Answer key

Exercise (1)

3

2

4

Transitive verbs: kiss, insert, hurt

Intransitive verbs: listen, jump, go

Exercise (2)

Transitive verbs: eats, changed, thinks, visit

Intransitive verbs: ate, arrived, jumps, is