Transitive Vs.

Intransitive Verbs
To receive an action, or not to receive an action? That is the question!!!
 Read and then compare…
Example 1) The batter hit the ball.

Example 2) 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 verb hit.
The second sentence doesn’t have words after the verb sang.
These two facts lead us to a discussion on transitive and intransitive
verbs.
 Transitive Verbs
Q: What are transitive verbs?
A: Transitive verbs are action verbs that have an object (person, place, thing) to
receive that action. In the first sentence (from the previous slide), the direct object, ball,
received the action of the verb, hit.

Here are some other examples….

1) He baked some cookies.

2) She rode the bike.
3) They ate ice cream.

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 from the previous slide (The bird sang)?
Is the verb in that sentence a transitive verb?
No, in this case the verb sang is an intransitive verb.
 Intransitive Verbs
Q: What are intransitive verbs?
A. Intransitive verbs are action verbs, but unlike
transitive verbs, they do not have an object receiving the
action. **Notice there are no words after the verb sang.

Here are some examples…

1) I fell.
2) He laughed.
3) The sun set.
4) I cried.

In all of the above cases the subject is performing

the action of the verb and nothing is receiving the action.
 Summary
To recap, a transitive verb must be an
action verb plus there must be an object
to receive that action.
An intransitive verb is when there is an
action verb, but an object does not
receive the action.
 Transitive Verb

-verb that takes an object.

Please bring a coffee.

Bring- action Coffee- object

Please bring. (Incomplete)

Bring what? To complete the sentence, we

need an object.
Please bring a coffee.

She loves. (Incomplete)

Loves what?

She loves cat. (Cat is our object)

 Intransitive Verb

-does not require an object

1) The dog runs.

2) She sang beautifully.
3) A light was shining brightly.
4) They jump at the cliff.
 OBJECT (noun,pronoun)
- Receives the action

DIRECT OBJECT

- Answers the question WHAT? or WHO?

 INDIRECT OBJECT
-answer the question to WHOM?, for
WHOM?

Ex. She gave me a gift.

Gave to whom? To me (Indirect Object)

Gave what? A gift (Direct Object)
Grandpa told her grandchildren a story.

Told whom? Grandchildren

Told what? A story

Reiko left Gretchen a message.

Left to whom? To Gretchen

Left what? A message