Transitive and

Intransitive Verbs
Transitive Verbs

 A transitive verb expresses an action that

moves from a doer to a receiver aka a DO.
 EVERY transitive verb has a receiver aka
DO.
 If it does not, it is intransitive.
 Ex. Eli Whitney created the cotton gin.
Intransitive Verbs

 An intransitive verb has NO receiver of its

action aka NO DO.
 An intransitive verb maybe followed by an
adverb of prep phrase.
 Ex. Todd Burpo wrote about his son’s
experience.
 Ex. His family struggled.
 Ex. The road takes you south.
Transitive & Intransitive Verbs
Some verbs will be both transitive and
intransitive. It depends on how the verb is used in
the sentence.
Ex. Madge ate the cookies. Ate = transitive
because cookies is the DO.

Ex. We ate at seven o’clock last night. Ate =

intransitive because it does not have a DO. The
verb is followed by a prep phrase.