Action Verbs

Action Verbs are verbs that express action. Ex: run, walk, do, drive.

I’ll do my homework when I get home.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Most action verbs are defined as transitive or intransitive. This means that some are used with
a direct object (the person or thing that receives the action of the subject) and others don’t
need a direct object. Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their
meaning.

1. Transitive Verb – Joe will send the price quote as soon as he can.

2. Intransitive Verb – Many of the students are not well. They coughed throughout the
lesson.

Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs always receive a direct object:

1. Richard annoys his boss so much that he’ll never get a promotion.

(His boss is the direct object of annoys and a promotion is the direct object of get)
2. Jenna brings Mrs. Smith lunch every day.
(Mrs. Smith is the direct object of brings. Jenna is the subject.
Here’s a list of some common transitive verbs that must be followed by a direct object:

 bring
 send
 owe
 contain
 buy
 show
 take
 tell
 verify
 check
 get
 wash
 finalize
 annoy
 lay
 lend
 offer
 edit
 make
 phone

Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object in order to complete their meaning. Many are
followed by an adjective, adverb, preposition or verb complement (gerund or infinitive).

Here is a list of common intransitive verbs:

 come
 explode
 laugh
 sit
 rise
 excel
 respond
 run
 cough
 swim
 emigrate
 smile
 act
 cry
 immigrate
 lie
 arrive
 continue
 die
 go
1. If Cathy continues to be late for work, the boss will fire her.
(Continues is followed by an infinitive (to be), with no direct object.)
2. The bomb exploded in the city center.
(Exploded is followed by a preposition of place with no direct object.)
Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meanings.

caminar
to walk

correr
to run

comer
to eat

cantar
to sing

nadar
to swim

pegar
to hit

saltar
to jump

quebrar
to break

aplaudir
to applaud

beber
to drink

tocar instrumentos
to play instruments

leer
to read

trabajar
to work

tocar
to touch

subir
to climb

subrayar
to underline

sonreír
to smile

soñar
to dream

soler
to be in the habit

practicar
to practice

to repetir
to repeat

bailar
to dance

barrer
to sweep

bostezar
to yawn

empujar
to push

broncear
to tan

burlarse
to make fun of

caer
to fall

cocinar
to cook

abrir
to open

conducir
to drive

construir
to buid

contar
to count

cortar
to cut

desayunar
to have break fast

dibujar
to draw

enojarse
to become angry

escribir
to write

escuchar
to listen

estudiar
to study

festejar
to celebrate

lanzar
to throw

limpiar
to clean

navegar
navigate

ver
to see

tomar
to take

cerrar
to open

volar
to fly

dormir
to sleep

jugar
to play