TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS

Read the following sentences.The batter hit the ball.The bird sang.What is the difference between the two verbs in the above sentences? At first thought, you may say the definition but forget about the meaning. Instead, concentrate on the grammar. How do the verbs differ grammatically?Notice that the first sentence has two words following the verbhit. The second sentence doesnt have words after the verbsang. These two facts lead us to a discussion on transitive and intransitive verbs.

What are transitive verbs?Transitive verbs are action verbs that have an object to receive that action. In the first sentence above, the direct objectballreceived the action of the verbhit.

Here are some more examples of transitive verbs:I baked some cookies.I rode the bicycle.I moved the chair.I stitched a quilt.

All of the verbs in the above sentences are transitive because an object is receiving the action of the verb.But what about the sentence The bird sang. Is the verb in that sentence a transitive verb? No, in this case the verbsangis an intransitive verb.

What are intransitive verbs?Intransitive verbs areaction verbsbut unlike transitive verbs, the do not have an object receiving the action. Notice there are no words after the verbsang.

More examples of intransitive verbs:I laughed.I cried.The book fell.The horse galloped.The sun set.

In all of the above cases the subject is performing the action of the verb and nothing is receiving the action.What about this sentence?

I walked to the park today.

Is walked transitive or intransitive? Think about the rules. Since walked has words coming after it, the verb must be transitive, right? WRONG! The phraseto the parkis a prepositional phrase andtodayis an adverb. There is no object receiving the action of the verbwalkedso the verb is intransitive.To recap, a transitive verb must be an action verb plus there must be an object to receive that action.

Here are some examples of intransitive verb:

bringPlease bring me a glass of water.buyDo not buy hamburgers at that restaurant.

costMy coat cost a lot of money.getMy children get good grades in school.

giveOur family gives gifts at Christmas.leaveI leave home at 8:00 in the morning.

lendCould you please lend me five dollars?makeDid you make coffee this morning?

offerMybossoffered me a great new job.oweI owe you ten dollars.

passAll the students passed the test.payDon't forget to pay the phone bill.

playJennifer loves playing the piano.promiseShe promised me she would come to the party.

readThey read thenewspaperevery day.refuseThe customs officers refused to let me enter the country.

sendMy girlfriend sends me an e-mail message every day.showMy neighbour showed me hergardenyesterday.

singMuriel sings songs at karaoke every Sunday night.takeTravellers take planes or trains to their destinations.

teachOur parents teach us to be kind.tellThe author tells a good story.

writeTommy writes short stories about the South.

Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking VerbsSometimes some problematic sentence structures come up when students dont understand how the verb in the sentence is acting (and, unfortunately, some verbs act in more than one way). This is an issue that native speakers most likely will not haveand if you see an odd construction in an ESOLers sentence, this could be one of the reasons.You can break verbs into different type--Transitive Verbs: Are followed by nouns. Answer the questions What? And/or Who? Verb examples: Need, Send, Want I send money. = Correct V N I send. = Incorrect. Must use a noun after a transitive verb. I send quickly. = Incorrect. Cant use an adverb after a transitive verb.

Intransitive Verbs: Answer the questions Where? When? Why? and How? Are followed by nothing, adverbs, and prepositions Verb example: Sleep, Walk, Arrive I walk quickly. = Correct V Adv I walk to school. = Correct V Prep I walk school. = Incorrect. Cant use a noun after an intransitive verb.

Linking Verbs: Describe, connect, or restate the subject . Are followed by adjectives and nouns Verb examples: Be, Seem, Become Use the Be test He is a doctor. = Correct V N He is angry. = Correct V Adj He is quickly. = Incorrect. Cant use an adverb after a linking verb.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

What is a transitive verb? A transitive verb requires an object in the form of a noun or pronoun to complete its meaning. This object answers the questions who(m) or what. Examples: -The students write compositions.What do the students write? Compositions.-Peter loves Mary.Who (m) does Peter love? Mary.What is an intransitive verb? An intransitive verb is one that does not require an object to complete its meaning. The sentence may end with the verb, an adjective, or an adverb. The questions one may ask with these forms are when, where, how, or why.Examples:- The children sat.- The children sat at 7:30 pm.(when or what time?) The children sat at the table. (where?) The children sat quietly. (how?) The children sat because their mother told them to. (why?)

Exercise directions: Underline the verb and in the blank space, write transitive or intransitive. If it is transitive, circle the object.1. The math professor explains the lesson. 2. I drive my car to work every day. 3. Many students sleep late on the weekends. ______4. Louise finally got her license. 5. Does your family live in Minnesota? 6. Mark and Mindy seem unhappy. 7. When did your friends come to the United States? ___8. For e-mail, you need a computer. ___9. My dad and I always disagree. ___10. Did you find the address? ___

Identify the underlined part of speech (grammar.uoregon.edu)

1. The director told the actors, "Do your best, and we'll be a hit."a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb

2. His ability to concentrate is legendary.a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb

3. The campers hid inside the cabin when they saw the bear.a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb

4. Alexis is swimming in the state championship next week.a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb

5. Frustrated with the officials call, Ethan kicked the bench.a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb6. The student procrastinated too long and failed to finish the project.a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb

7. The vegetarian burger tasted salty.a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb

8. When the contestant completed the first test, she received another clue.a. transitive verbb. intransitive verbc. linking verbd. auxiliary verb