Transitive or Intransitive Verb

What is a Verb?

A Verb is that part of a speech which is used to indicate the state of being. It tells what something does or that something exists.Action verb such as dance, eat, jump etc. expresses action. Most of the action verbs are categorized as transitive or intransitive.

What is a Transitive Verb?

Read the sentence : The man killed.What did the man kill? In the above sentences the Verb alone do not give complete sense. Something must be added to complete the sense.

Let’s read this sentence : The man killed a snake.
Now this sentence has complete sense. The word “snake” is called the Object of the Verb “killed”. In the above sentence, the direct object “snake” received the action of the verb “killed”.

Verb which requires an object after it to complete its sense called a Transitive Verb.

Note :The meaning of a sentence with a transitive verb is not complete without a direct object.
The object can be a thing or a person.

A direct object does not have to be something tangible.

If it answers the question "what?" or "whom?" in relation to a verb, then it's a direct object.
Example:
1. The hunter shot a pigeon.
2. He pulled the chair.
3. Ria wants a new dress.
4. The tree will shed its leaves.
5. Today I met my old friend.

What is a Intransitive Verb? 

Read the sentence : The plant grows.
Now this above sentence has complete sense. Here verb “grows” does not require any object to make the sentence meaningful.

Intransitive verbs don’t have a direct object and stand alone in the predicate and convey complete meaning.

In most cases, they are followed by an adverb, adjective, verb complement or a preposition.

Example:
1. Ayush jogs for miles every morning.
2. Lion is wild animal.
3. The worker seems tired.
4. Dia became sad.
5. They arrived after the function.

Practice Exercise

QA) Underline the Transitive Verb in the sentences given below and circle the object.

  1. I received a letter from my aunt in India.
  2. Ria prepared breakfast for everyone.
  3. He is talking to his friend on the phone.
  4. We must stop the car at the red lights.
  5. The doctor asked the patient to rest.
  6. We will watch the movie on the T.V.
  7. Dia wants to eat a chocolate.
  8. He dropped the pencil on the ground.
  9. Dia sent a greeting card from Australia.
  10. The batter hit the ball.
  11. I stitched a dress.
  12. Driver stopped the car.
  13. The rabbit fell into the well.
  14. Avi kicked the ball under the table.
  15. Satish opened the window.

QB) Decide whether the verb in each of the following sentences is transitive or intransitive.

  1. The girl was crying whole day.
  2. I showed her my new car.
  3. The doctor advised him to jog regularly.
  4. The muffins were wonderful.
  5. The students are happy today.
  6. She baked cookies.
  7. My neighbor punished his servant.
  8. The crowd laughed at her.
  9. She is an intelligent girl.
  10. The class enjoyed the movie.
  11. The sun is shining.
  12. He always keeps his valuable in a box.
  13. The water is boiling.

QC)Decide whether the verb in each of the following sentences is transitive or intransitive.

  1. I worked whole day.
  2. He gave a pen to his friend.
  3. Dia played for 2 hours.
  4. I worked in Delhi for 2 years.
  5. I like to dance.
  6. We clean our garden every day.
  7. My friend shifted to USA.
  8. The painter painted the wall with red colour.
  9. They shouted loudly.
  10. I called the doctor.
  11. She made a chocolate cake.
  12. We must speak the truth
  13. The boat sunk in the water.

QD) Write whether each sentence contains a transitive or intransitive verb

  1. He opened the gate.
  2. My mother does not eat chicken.
  3. He always keeps his books properly.
  4. She crossed the road with me.
  5. You must speak politely.
  6. Tia raised her hand to answer.
  7. My friend shifted to USA.
  8. The painter painted the wall with red colour.
  9. My mom told me a story.
  10. The food is very tasty.
  11. The birds sang sweetly.
  12. My friend surprised me.
  13. I can’t drive the car.