Contents
Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs are verbs that require a direct object to complete their meaning. The action of the verb is transferred from the subject to the object. Without an object, the sentence feels incomplete.
Examples
- Bring – She brought a gift.
- Eat – He ate an apple.
- Write – They wrote a letter.
- Read – I read a book.
- Buy – We bought a car.
Structure
- Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object
Example: She bought a dress. - She (subject) + bought (transitive verb) + a dress (direct object).
Key Points
- The direct object answers the question “what?” or “whom?” after the verb.
Example: She bought what? → A dress. - Transitive verbs cannot stand alone in a sentence without an object.
Incorrect: She bought.
Correct: She bought a dress.
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs do not require a direct object to complete their meaning. The action of the verb does not transfer to an object, and the sentence can be complete without one.
Examples
- Sleep – She sleeps.
- Laugh – He laughed.
- Run – They ran.
- Go – We went.
- Arrive – The train arrived.
Structure
- Subject + Intransitive Verb
Example: She Slept. - She (subject) + slept (intransitive verb).
Key Points
- Intransitive verbs do not answer the question “what?” or “whom?” because they do not have a direct object.
- They can stand alone in a sentence and still make complete sense.
Example: She laughed.
Differences Between Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
| Aspect | Transitive Verb | Intransitive Verb |
| Object Required | Require a direct object. | Do not require a direct object. |
| Sentence Structure | Subject + Verb + Direct Object. | Subject + Verb. |
| Examples | She bought a dress. | She laughed. |
| Questions Answered | Answers “what?” or “whom?” after the verb. | Does not answer “what?” or “whom?” |
Read also: Day 20: Regular & Irregular verbs
How to Identify Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
- Ask “What?” or “Whom?”
If the verb answers “what?” or “whom?” it is transitive.
Example: She ate what? → An apple. (Transitive)
If the verb does not answer “what?” or “whom?” it is intransitive.
Example: She slept. (Intransitive)
2. Check for a Direct Object
If the sentence has a direct object, the verb is transitive.
Example: He wrote a letter. (Transitive)
If the sentence does not have a direct object, the verb is intransitive.
Example: He ran. (Intransitive)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Incorrect: She brought. (Incomplete because “brought” is transitive and needs an object.)
Correct: She brought a book.
2. Using Intransitive Verbs with Objects
Incorrect: She slept a bed. (“Slept” is intransitive and does not take an object.)
Correct: She slept.
3. Misidentifying Verbs That Can Be Both
Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on the context.
Transitive: She runs a business. (Object: business)
Intransitive: She runs every morning. (No object)
Examples of Verbs That Can Be Both Transitive and Intransitive
Run
- Transitive: She runs a marathon. (Object – marathon)
- Intransitive: She runs every day.
Eat
- Transitive: He ate an apple. (Object – apple)
- Intransitive: He ate quickly.
Read
- Transitive: She read a book. (Object – book)
- Intransitive: She read for hours.
Drive
- Transitive: She drives a car. (Object – car)
- Intransitive: She drives carefully.
Cook
- Transitive: He cooked dinner. (Object – dinner)
- Intransitive: He cooked all morning.
Paint
- Transitive: She painted a picture. (Object – picture)
- Intransitive: She painted for hours.
Play
- Transitive: They played football. (Object – football)
- Intransitive: They played in the park.
Study
- Transitive: He studied math. (Object – math)
- Intransitive: He studied all night.
Change
- Transitive: They changed the plan. (Object – plan)
- Intransitive: The weather changed quickly.
Sing
- Transitive: He sang a song. (Object – song)
- Intransitive: He sang beautifully.
For regular English-Speaking Course updates, kindly join our Telegram channel
Follow the Sarsa Education channel on Telegram: https://shorturl.at/R5WKa