Transitive Versus Intransitive Verbs in English

Discussion about the Transitive Versus Intransitive Verbs & Its Examples

TRANSITIVE VERSUS INTRANSITIVE VERBS – Here is a discussion about these two (2) types of verbs in English.

One of the subjects with the widest scopes is English. It is where grammar, literature, writing, and a lot more topics from basic to complex can be learned. To facilitate a smooth comprehension of the topics, it is best to learn the foundation topics first before jumping to complex ones.

In the case of Transitive versus Intransitive Verbs, it is important to recall first the meaning of verb. It is one of the eight (8) parts of speech and the words under it indicate actions. For example:

reading
dancing
sit
shop
eat
sing
called
attended
remembered
crawled

Verbs have several types including the transitive and intransitive verbs. The main difference between the two (2) is the present of a recipient of the action or what is called the “direct object”.

A transitive verb is an action word that passes from the subject, the doer of the action, to the direct object, the receive of the action. The sentence needs the direct object to deliver a complete thought.

For example: Crisostomo cooked creamy carbonara for the birthday of Eliza.

In the said sample sentence, the subject is “Crisostomo”, the doer of the action. The verb is “cooked” which was the action while the receiver of the action or the direct object is “creamy carbonara”.

Often times, you can determine the direct object by asking “who” or “what” with regards to the recipient of the action done by the subject. When the direct object is removed, the sentence delivers an incomplete thought.

Other sample sentences with transitive verbs:

Timothy bought his lunch ahead so he won’t have to go out again later.
The painter asked the owner to buy a gallon of white paint.
Drake climbed the mountain in just four (4) hours from the bottom.
After the event, Enrico prepared his clothes for the next event right away.
Elsie told Janina that they will go to Malaysia tomorrow.

An intransitive verb is a verb that has no direct object or it does not pass the subject to another part of the sentence. The sentence delivers a complete thought with or without a receiver of the action.

Sample Sentences:

Gabbi and Melanie has arrived.
Hillary just know.
The doctor reads.
I smiled.
The dog barked.

Transitive versus Intransitive Verbs. A verb can actually be bought transitive and intransitive. It depends on the details in the sentence as well as the structure.

For example: