Transitive and Intransitive Verbs (2024)

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Verbs are the backbone of any sentence and play a crucial role in conveying precise meaning. Therefore, it is essential to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs in English grammar. Distinguishing between these two types of verbs enhances grammar skills, improves clarity in sentences, and prevents misunderstandings in written and spoken communication. We will explore the subject of transitive and intransitive verbs, also providing examples for you to understand these types of verbs. Additionally, in this blog post we have listed some commonly used transitive and intransitive verbs for you.

What are Transitive and Intransitive Verbs?

Transitive and intransitive verbs are two categories of verbs in English that are distinguished by how they take or do not take a direct object in a sentence.

Transitive Verbs:
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning or make the sentence grammatically correct. In other words, a transitive verb acts on or affects something or someone, and that something or someone is the direct object of the verb. For example, in the sentence “She ate the cake,” the verb “ate” is transitive because it acts on the direct object “the cake.” The action of eating is directed towards the cake.

Examples of transitive verbs:
He read a book.
They built a house.
She loves her dog.

Intransitive Verbs:
An intransitive verb is a verb that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. It can stand alone in a sentence and still make sense. Intransitive verbs typically describe an action that is complete in itself without affecting anything else. For example, in the sentence “She slept peacefully,” the verb “slept” is intransitive because it doesn’t require a direct object. The action of sleeping is self-contained.

Examples of intransitive verbs:
They laughed loudly.
He runs every morning.
The birds sing beautifully.

It’s important to note that some verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively, depending on the context. For example:
“She runs” (intransitive) simply means she is engaged in the action of running.
“She runs a marathon” (transitive) means she is participating in and completing the action of running a marathon.

How to Identify a Transitive Verb

Identifying a transitive verb is relatively straightforward. A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning or make the sentence grammatically correct. Here are the steps to identify a transitive verb in a sentence:

Identify the verb: First, locate the main verb in the sentence. This is the action word that describes what is happening in the sentence. Examples of verbs include “eat,” “read,” “build,” “love,” and “sing.”

Ask “what” or “whom” after the verb: After identifying the verb, ask the questions “what” or “whom” to the verb. For example, ask, “What did the subject (the doer of the action) do?” or “Whom did the subject affect with the action?”

Check for an answer: If the question “what” or “whom” can be answered with a specific noun or pronoun, then the verb is transitive. This noun or pronoun is the direct object of the verb.

Here are some examples:
Sentence: “She ate the cake.”
Verb: “ate”
Question: “She ate what?” Answer: “the cake”
Verdict: “ate” is a transitive verb because it has a direct object, “the cake.”
Sentence: “He read a book.”
Verb: “read”
Question: “He read what?” Answer: “a book”
Verdict: “read” is a transitive verb because it has a direct object, “a book.”

Common Transitive Verbs

Here is a table of some transitive verbs commonly used that are useful to you.

Transitive Verbs	Meanings
Admire	To regard with respect, approval or affection.
Bake	To cook food using an oven.
Build	To construct or make materials.
Buy	To acquire something in exchange for money.
Carry	To support or move something from one place to another.
Complete	To finish to an end.
Construct	To build or create something by assembling parts.
Cook	To prepare food by combining ingredients.
Create	To bring into something existence.
Design	To plan and make decisions about something.
Discuss	To talk about a topic.
Drive	To operate a vehicle.
Eat	To consume food by chewing.
Enter	To go or come into a place.
Fix	To repair something.
Hand	To give something to someone using the hand.
Hug	To embrace someone tightly with arms.
Kick	To strike something or someone with the foot.
Mend	To repair or restore something.
Pack	To put things into a container for storage.
Paint	To do color to a surface using a brush.
Pet	To caress gently to something or someone.
Photograph	To take a picture using a camera.
Play	To engage in an activity for enjoyment.
Plant	To place seeds in the ground to grow.
Praise	To express approval or admiration for someone’s success.
Publish	To make a work available to the public.
Push	To exert force in order to move something away.
Read	To understand written or printed words.
Recite	To say something aloud.
Send	To cause to go or be taken to a destination.
Solve	To find a solution or an answer to something.
Support	To give assistance, help to someone or something.
Taste	To perceive the flavor of something.
Teach	To learn knowledge to someone through instruction.
Tempt	To persuade someone to do undesirable things.
Throw	To hand something through the air by the arm.
Watch	To observe or look at carefully.
Write	To form letters, words on a paper using a pen or keyboard.

Transitive Verbs Examples

Let’s delve into transitive verb examples that are beneficial to learn.

• Alice admires her friend’s relationship.
• Kevin read a book to prepare for his exam.
• Joy bought a new laptop bag.
• The lovers hugged tightly to each other.
• She has eaten three bananas.
• Suddenly, they entered Kevin’s room.
• He writes a letter to his family.
• The doctor completed his patient visit.
• Hailey drove the truck.
• She tries to design her new house.
• Tosca watched a stand-up show with her family.
• She pushed the car when her car broke.
• She sent an emergency text.
• The student was able to solve math problems.
• When he returned, he tempted his friends to hang out with him.
• My father fixed the car.
• The mother tries to teach her son how to behave in public.
• The baby kicked the ball.
• He used to paint the wall.
• My grandfather cooked dinner.
• They constructed their fence.
• She threw her ex-boyfriend’s photographs into the trash.
• She carried their suitcases for help.
• He built a house.
• Kevin photographed a memory.
• The children plant three trees every spring.
• She packs her belongings due to moving to the house.
• She mended a broken table.
• The mother praises her son.
• The dog played with a toy.
• My grandmother baked frozen cookies.
• They handed their friends the car.
• The baby likes to pet the cat.
• She published her academic journal on the Internet.
• The father supports his sons to win the baseball match.
• The baby tasted the soup.
• Sally recites a poem before sleeping.
• Theo creates new spaces to discover himself.
• Our project group discussed new methods that can solve the problems.
• Emma brought the bag to me, which I liked.

How to Identify an Intransitive Verb

Identifying an intransitive verb indicates the complete action of the sentence. An intransitive verb is a verb that doesn’t require a direct object to complete its meaning or make the sentence grammatically correct. Here are the steps to identify an intransitive verb in a sentence:

Identify the verb: First, locate the main verb in the sentence. This is the action verb that completes its meaning without a direct or indirect object. Examples of verbs include “run”, “sleep”, “dance”, and “swim.”
Ask “what” or “whom” after the verb: After identifying the verb, ask the questions “what” or “whom” to the verb. For example, ask, “What did the subject (the doer of the action) do?” or “Whom did the subject affect with the action?. If there is not a meaningful answer, the verb is likely intransitive in the sentence.

Here are some examples:
Sentence: “She can jump very high.”
Verb: “jump”
Question: ” Jump what?” Answer: “Jump does not provide a meaningful answer.”
Verdict: “jump” is an intransitive verb because the action of jumping is complete on its own in the sentence.
Sentence: “The baby cried.”
Verb: “cry”
Question: “Cry what?” Answer: “Cry does not provide a meaningful answer.”
Verdict: “cry” is an intransitive verb because the action of crying is complete on its own in the sentence.

Common Intransitive Verbs

Here is a table of some intransitive verbs commonly used that are useful to you.

Intransitive Verbs	Meanings
Appear	To become visible.
Apologize	To express regret or say sorry for an action.
Arrive	To reach a destination or to come to a place.
Bark	The sound a dog makes.
Breathe	To take in and expel air; to respire.
Complain	To express dissatisfaction.
Cry	To shed tears
Dance	To move rhythmically to music.
Depart	To leave or go away from a place.
Die	To pass away someone.
Disappear	To vanish or become unseen.
Emerge	To come into existence.
Erupt	To burst forth, especially in a sudden way.
Escape	To break free from control.
Exist	To have an actual being.
Fall	To descend under the gravity.
Float	To stay on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
Fly	To move through the air using wings or a plane.
Glow	To emit a steady light.
Grow	To increase or expand in size or develop.
Happen	To occur something.
Hesitate	To pause or hold back in uncertainty.
Jump	To propel oneself into the air by using the legs.
Laugh	To express joy.
Occur	To happen something.
Perish	To die or cease to exist.
Remain	To stay in a particular state.
Rise	To ascend.
Run	To move rapidly on foot.
Shine	To emit light or glow.
Sigh	To exhale.
Sing	To produce musical sounds with the voice.
Sneeze	To expel air forcibly through the nose and mouth.
Smile	To express happiness using the mouth.
Sleep	To rest unconsciously.
Stumble	To trip or miss a step in walking.
Swim	To move through water using the body.
Talk	To communicate with someone.
Vanish	To disappear suddenly.
Wait	To remain in a place for a period of time.
Whisper	To speak very quietly.

Intransitive Verbs Examples

Let’s delve into intransitive verb examples that are beneficial to learn.

• I sleep early.
• We laughed a lot.
• She runs every weekend to be healthier.
• The airplane arrived on time.
• He cried during the movie.
• They jumped over the wall.
• The couple danced joyfully.
• My grandmother swims every morning.
• John disappeared suddenly after the threats.
• The sun shines sparkly.
• She waited for the bus.
• After the breakup, she talked for hours.
• Conan apologized for the mistakes.
• The baby sneezed loudly due to having summer allergies.
• It happened suddenly.
• She sings for hours.
• The dog smiles lovably at the award treat.
• The volcano erupted after the earthquake.
• The baby grows fast.
• During the pandemic, many people died.
• The tree’s leaves fall during the fall.
• Wood materials float in the water.
• The bird flies through the sky.
• Do skinwalkers exist in this century?
• The flight accident occurred yesterday.
• While walking, the baby stumbled on the pavement.
• We whispered secretly.
• The criminal hesitated before speaking.
• My auntie complains about her financial problems.
• The sun appears in the morning.
• Without the sun, the world will perish.
• The suspects have escaped.
• The moon glows in the sky.
• The flight departed late.
• Prices are rising gradually.
• The twilight emerged from the clouds.
• The old apartment remains among the sky castles.
• The magician made the teddy bear vanish.
• Sally sighed for hours.
• The old man barely breathes while running.
• Our dog barks loudly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

What is the main difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?

The main difference is that a transitive verb should be used with a direct or indirect object, whereas an intransitive verb is a complete sentence without a direct or indirect object.

Can a verb be both transitive and intransitive?

Sure, a verb can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on the sentence. For example, sleep can be a transitive verb (e.g., he sleeps with his dogs every day) or an intransitive verb ( e.g., she sleeps loudly) in terms of a sentence.

Why is it important to understand transitive and intransitive verbs?

Understanding these verb types is essential to improve constructing grammatically correct sentences. Additionally, it can have a crucial role in ensuring that sentences are clear, meaningful, and grammatically correct properly. When writing or speaking in English, it also helps to choose the right words.

What are examples of transitive verbs?

Examples of transitive verbs include read, write, kick, love, and paint as these verbs typically require a direct or indirect object to convey a complete meaning.

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