Transitive/Intransitive Verbs
Module 4 Notes
Examples from:
www.dailygrammar.com
The Function of Nouns
this will help you understand verb
• Subject – who/what is doing something in the
sentence
• Objects:
– Direct Object – follows a verb & receives the action of
the verb
– Indirect Object – appears between the verb and the
direct object & tells who or what the action is done
for
– Object of the preposition – the noun that follows a
preposition
– Predicate noun – follows a linking verb & renames the
subject.
A few definitions
• Transitive – verbs that have subjects or objects
that receive the action. They are either active or
passive (this is usually called voice)
• Intransitive – verbs that have no receiver of the
action. They are either complete or linking.
• Linking verbs – also called state-of-being verbs
(am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been); some
others like seem, smell, grow depending on
usage.
Transitive Active Verbs
• These verbs have a direct object
(noun/pronoun) that receives the action of
the verb.
– The hikers reached the mountain by nightfall.
• What was reached?
– They prepared their own meals that night.
• What was prepared?
– Last week the family painted the house.
• What was painted?
Transitive Passive
• In these sentences the subject of the sentence
receives the action. Note that each sentence
has a helping verb.
– Yesterday Grandma was hit by a car.
• What/who was hit?
– My former classmates were seen at the reunion.
• What/who were seen?
– The lamp for the study was broken on the way
home.
• What/who was broken?
Intransitive Linking Verbs
• These verbs link the subject to a predicate
nominative or a predicate adjective.
– The radio was my favorite gift at Christmas.
• Note that the subject and object can be reversed
without affecting the meaning of the sentence.
• My favorite gift at Christmas was the radio.
– Jay will be the winner of most games.
– The meal tasted wonderful to everyone.
• Note that tasted can also be a transitive verb.
• The chef tasted the soup before serving it to customers.
– What is being tasted?
Intransitive Complete
• These are all the verbs that don’t fit into the
other classifications. Generally, nothing is
receiving action. They are often followed by a
prepositional phrase.
– Mother looked for her lost shoes.
– The sea waves lapped at the levy.
– There are many desserts for the party
• Note that there is a pronoun that introduces the
subject.
• Many desserts are for the party. (sounds awkward)
Practice Directions
• Use the white boards and markers
• Read each sentence.
• Write which verb type you think is present
(DON’T SHARE)!
• When asked, hold up your board, so that I can
see your answers.
• Then I’ll reveal the correct answer and why.
We started our new lessons
today.
We started our new lessons
today.
Transitive active
lessons is the direct object
The game started at noon.
The game started at noon.
Intransitive complete
No receiver of the action
Mr. Paul is our math teacher.
Mr. Paul is our math teacher.
Intransitive linking
teacher is a predicate
nominative teacher can trade
places with Mr. Paul
Our math teacher is Mr. Paul.
The relish tray was done by
the two sisters.
The relish tray was done by
the two sisters.
Transitive passive
tray is the receiver of the
action and the subject
The meal is now complete.
The meal is now complete.
Intransitive linking
complete is the predicate
adjective