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?
______
___
___
Myra M. Medina, 2006, Miami Dade College
Worksheet: Azar: Fundamentals of English Grammar, 3rd ed. Chart 10-3
Finding the Direct Object
A direct object can be a person or thing that receives the action of the verb directly.
When trying to determine the direct object, you should ask two questions: whom or
what.
Let’s see an example –
Mount St. Helens released a lot smoke last week.
Subject
Verb Direct Object
In this example, if you ask yourself, “What did Mount St. Helens release?” the answer is
“a lot of smoke.”
“A lot of smoke” is the direct object.
Another example –
Parents can’t take their child to school.
Subject
Verb
D. Object
In this example, if you ask yourself, “Whom can’t the parents take to school?” the
answer is “ their child.”
“Their child” is the direct object.
IMPORTANT: As you can see, the questions ask “whom” or “what” the subject is or
isn’t doing to something or someone else. The answer to the question will provide
you with the direct object. Let’s look at another example:
Crude oil has gone up since the beginning of the year.
Subject
Verb
When
In the preceding example, the information following the verb does not answer to the
questions “whom” or “what.” As a result, the sentence does not have an object. The
information after the verb answers to the question “when.”
Look at another example –
The man marched down the street at dawn.
Subject
Verb
Where When
Again, the example shows you that the information provided after the verb answers to
other types of questions. As a result, this sentence does not have an object.
Look at the sentences below. Underline the direct object if there is one.
1. An earthquake caused terrible damage in Haiti in January 2010.
2. Red Cross volunteers have flown to Haiti to help.
Myra M. Medina, Miami Dade College
Worksheet: Azar: Fundamentals of English Grammar, 3rd ed. Chart 10-3
Worksheet: Azar: Fundamentals of English Grammar, 3rd ed. Chart 10-3