Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

An awful thing has happened.The girl screamed. I waited.

Note: Intransitive verbs do not have a direct object and cannot be used in the passive.

Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

Many verbs do not normally have an object. They are called ‘intransitive verbs’. They often refer to:

existence: appear, die, disappear, exist, happen, live, occur, remain, vanish

the human body: ache, bleed, blush, faint, shiver, smile

Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

human noises: cough, cry, laugh, scream, sigh, snore, speak, yawn

light, smell, vibration: gleam, glow, shine, sparkle, stink, throb, vibrate

position, movement: arrive, come, depart, fall, flow, go, jump, kneel, pause, run, sit, sleep, stand, swim, wait, walk, work

Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

He hit the ball really hard.Did you see the rainbow?They both enjoyed the film.She reported the accident to the police.Don’t blame me.

Note: Transitive verbs have direct objects and can be used in the passive.

Verb

Direct object

Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

Many verbs normally have an object. These verbs are called ‘transitive’ verbs. They are often connected with:

physical objects: build, buy, carry, catch, cover, cut, damage, destroy, fill, hit, own, remove, rent, sell, use, waste, wear

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

feelings: admire, dislike, enjoy, fear, frighten, hate, interest, like, love, need, prefer, surprise, trust, want

facts, ideas: accept, believe, consider, correct, discuss, expect, express, forget, include, know, mean, remember, report

people: address, blame, comfort, contact, convince, defy, kill, persuade, please, tease, thank, warn

Key terms for TRANSITIVE/INTRANSITIVE verbs

Direct objects are words that receive the action of the verb.

Some verbs have direct objects and others do not.

If the verb has a direct object, it is transitive.

If it does not, it is intransitive.

Does it have a DIRECT OBJECT?

To determine whether a verb has a direct object,Ask: whom or what after it

Some verbs will be both transitive and intransitive. It depends on how the verb is used.

Check out this example:

He wrote the manuscript.

The verb is wrote.Ask yourself: He wrote (what)Answer: The manuscript is the direct object.

Therefore wrote is a transitive verb.

Examples of Intransitive Verbs

Mrs. Carper applauded.

The verb is applauded.Ask yourself: Applauded (whom or what?)Answer: There is no word to receive the

action of the verb applauded and no direct object.Therefore applauded is an intransitive verb.

Kinds of ObjectWhat Is an Object?

An object is a noun (or pronoun) that is governed by a verb or a preposition.

There are 3 kinds of objects: a direct object, an indirect object, and an object of a preposition.

What Is a Direct Object?

The direct object of a verb is the thing being acted upon (i.e., the receiver of the action).

Examples of Direct Objects

•Play the guitar.

•Every actor played his part.

•The crowd will cheer the President.

•We can climb the hill and fly the kite.

She fed the cat.(Step 1. Find the verb = fed)(Step 2. Ask What? = the cat)(Therefore, the direct object is the cat.)

Craig will read the book tomorrow.(Step 1. Find the verb = will read)(Step 2. Ask What? = the book)(Therefore, the direct object is the book.)

Do Not Confuse Complements with Direct Objects

If you ask what? with a linking verb, you will find a verb complement not a direct object.

For example:

•Peter is happy.(Step 1. Find the verb = is)(Step 2. Ask What? = happy)

(However, on this occasion, happy is not the direct object.

This is because is (i.e., the verb to be) is a linking verb.)

What Is an Indirect Object?

The indirect object of a sentence is the recipient of the direct object. Everysentence must contain a verb. Most verbs have a direct object  (the thing being acted upon).

For example:•Paula passed the parcel.(The direct object is the parcel. There is no recipient in this sentence. Therefore, there is no indirect object.)

* Some sentences tell us about the recipient. That's the indirect object.

For example:Paula passed her father the parcel.(The indirect object (i.e., the recipient) is her father.)

Examples of Indirect Objects

•Simon gave his uncle a dirty look.(his uncle - indirect object)

•Paula passed the money to her father.(her father - indirect object) 

(Note: Sometimes, the indirect object will follow a preposition like to or for.)•Let him have it.(him - indirect object)

(Note: When the indirect object is a pronoun, the pronoun must be in the objective case.)

•Shall I tell the children our ghost story tonight?(the children - indirect object)

How to Find the Indirect ObjectBefore you can find the indirect object, you have to find the direct object.

You can find the direct object by finding the verb and asking what?. Once you've found the direct object, ask who or what received it?

For example:

•She gave the beggar a gold coin.(Step 1. Find the verb = gave)(Step 2. Ask What? = a gold coin)

(Therefore, the direct object is a gold coin.)(Step 3. Ask Who (or what) received it? = the beggar)(Therefore, the indirect object is the beggar.)

Remember, once you have found the direct object, you have to ask who (or what) received it to find the indirect object.

What Is the Object of a Preposition?

The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun governed by a preposition.

The object of a preposition is usually (but not always) the noun or pronoun immediately to the right of the preposition.

•This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. (The word a before man is a modifier. The object of a preposition is often accompanied by modifiers that precede it or follow it.)

•The ants get in your ears when you are sleeping.(The word your is a modifier.)

•Are those biscuits on the table for the dogs?(Note: The words the before table and dogs are modifiers. Remember, the object of a preposition is the head noun (or pronoun) within the noun phraseor noun clause.)