Q. What is the difference between Transitive and Intransitive verbs?
Transitive Verb
A transitive verb is a type of verb that requires a direct object to convey a complete idea. Without the direct object, a sentence with a transitive verb seems incomplete because the verb’s action needs something or someone to act upon.
Transitive verbs answer the questions “what?” or “whom?” and make the verb’s action more meaningful by specifying where the action is directed.
For example
She called whom? — She called her friend.
(Here, whom refers to her friend, the person receiving the action.)
He teaches whom? — He teaches the students.
(In this example, whom represents the students, who receive the action of teaching.)
The chef prepared what? — The chef prepared dinner.
(Dinner answers “what?” and completes the action of prepared.)
She read what? — She read a book.
(A book is the direct object, answering the question “what?”)
They built what? — They built a house.
A house answers “what?” and is the target of built.
It means they require an object to clarify who or what is receiving the action, making the sentence complete and meaningful.
Examples
- She helped her friend.
In this sentence, helped is a transitive verb because it requires an object, her friend, to indicate whom she helped. Without the object, the sentence would seem incomplete.
- He baked a cake.
Here, baked is a transitive verb because it needs an object, a cake, to specify what he baked. The object completes the action.
- They invited their neighbors.
Invited is a transitive verb and needs their neighbors as the direct object to answer whom they invited. This object clarifies where the action of inviting is directed.
- The teacher praised the student.
‘Praised’ is transitive because it requires the student as the object to indicate whom the teacher praised. The object makes the sentence complete.
- I bought a new phone.
In this sentence, bought is transitive, needing a new phone as the object to show what was bought.
Transitive Verbs with Direct Object
Direct objects are often noun phrases rather than single words. A noun phrase is a group of words that function together as a noun, typically including a noun along with modifiers (like adjectives, articles, or prepositional phrases).
Examples
She read the fascinating mystery novel last night.
Direct object: the fascinating mystery novel
He bought a brand-new laptop with extra storage.
Direct object: a brand new laptop with extra storage
They prepared a delicious, three-course meal for their guests.
Direct object: a delicious, three-course meal
The teacher assigned a challenging research project on climate change.
Direct object: a challenging research project on climate change
We visited the ancient ruins of an old castle on our trip.
Direct object: the ancient ruins of an old castle
Transitive Verbs with Indirect Object
An indirect object is not always required with transitive verbs. Transitive verbs only need a direct object to complete their meaning.
However, in some sentences, an indirect object is added to clarify to whom or for whom the action is done, adding extra detail about the recipient of the action.
Examples
She gave her friend a gift.
In this sentence, gave is a transitive verb that has both a direct object, a gift (what she gave), and an indirect object, her friend (to whom she gave it).
He sent his sister a postcard.
Here, sent is a transitive verb. The direct object is a postcard (what he sent), and the indirect object is his sister (to whom he sent it).
The teacher showed the class a video.
Showed is a transitive verb that has a direct object, a video (what was shown), and an indirect object, the class (to whom it was shown).
I wrote my friend a letter.
In this sentence, wrote is transitive with a direct object, a letter (what I wrote), and an indirect object, my friend (to whom I wrote it).
They bought their parents a gift.
Bought is a transitive verb that includes a direct object, a gift (what was bought), and an indirect object, their parents (for whom it was bought).
Important Note
- Only transitive verbs can take a passive form because they act on a direct object.
- In passive sentences, the direct object of the transitive verb becomes the subject of the sentence.
- You cannot create a passive sentence using an intransitive verb because intransitive verbs lack a direct object
Examples
Active: She helped her friend.
Passive: Her friend was helped by her.
Active: He baked a cake.
Passive: A cake was baked by him.
Active: They invited their neighbours.
Passive: Their neighbors were invited by them.
Active: The teacher praised the student.
Passive: The student was praised by the teacher.
Active: I purchased a new car.
Passive: A new car was purchased by me.
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs are verbs that do not require a direct object to complete their meaning. They express actions or states that do not transfer to another person or thing.
It means they stand alone without an object. Intransitive verbs answer questions like “how?” or “where?” rather than “what?” or “whom?”
Examples
She laughed loudly.
Laughed is intransitive; it does not act on a direct object.
They arrived at noon.
Arrived is intransitive; it expresses an action that does not transfer to another noun.
The children slept soundly.
Slept is intransitive; it stands alone without an object.
He swims every morning.
Swims is intransitive; the action of swimming does not transfer to an object.
She danced gracefully on the stage.
Danced is intransitive; on the stage is a prepositional phrase. Here, “stage” is the object of the preposition “on,” not a direct object of the verb.
The dog barked at the mailman.
Barked is intransitive; at the mailman is a prepositional phrase where “mailman” is the object of the preposition “at.”
He fell down the stairs.
Fell is intransitive; down the stairs is a prepositional phrase where “stairs” is the object of the preposition, not a direct object of the verb.
They walked through the park.
Walked is intransitive; through the park is a prepositional phrase where “park” is the object of the preposition “through.”
The leaves fluttered in the breeze.
Fluttered is intransitive; in the breeze is a prepositional phrase, where “breeze” is the object of the preposition “in.”
She jogged along the beach.
Jogged is intransitive; along the beach is a prepositional phrase where “beach” is the object of the preposition “along.” So, it provides context but does not act as a direct object.
Verbs Can Be Transitive or Intransitive
Some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on how they are used. In one sentence, a verb might take a direct object and be transitive.
In another sentence, that same verb might not need an object and will be intransitive.
Ergative Verbs
Ergative verbs are verbs that can be used both transitively and intransitively, with a twist: the object of the transitive form can become the subject of the intransitive form.
In other words, with ergative verbs, an action can “happen by itself” without needing an external force or agent in the sentence.
Examples
Run
Transitive: She ran a marathon.
(The direct object ‘marathon’ shows what she ran.)
Intransitive: She runs every morning.
(No direct object is needed to complete the meaning.)
Read
Transitive: He read the book.
(The direct object ‘book’ specifies what he read.)
Intransitive: He reads often.
(No direct object; the sentence is complete on its own.)
Sing
Transitive: They sang a song.
(The direct object ‘song’ shows what they sang.)
Intransitive: They sang beautifully.
(No direct object; ‘beautifully’ describes how they sang.)
Open
Transitive: She opened the door.
(The direct object ‘door’ specifies what was opened.)
Intransitive: The door opened slowly.
(No direct object; the action describes what the door did.)
Eat
Transitive: He ate an apple.
(The direct object ‘apple’ shows what he ate.)
Intransitive: They ate quickly.
(No direct object; ‘quickly’ describes how they ate.)
Verb | Examples |
---|---|
Play | Transitive: She plays the piano. Intransitive: She plays well. |
Grow | Transitive: They grow vegetables. Intransitive: The plant grows quickly. |
Move | Transitive: He moved the chair. Intransitive: He moves slowly. |
Write | Transitive: She wrote a letter. Intransitive: She writes neatly. |
Begin | Transitive: They began the meeting. Intransitive: The movie begins at 8 PM. |
Close | Transitive: She closed the door. Intransitive: The shop closes at 9 PM. |
Run | Transitive: He runs a business. Intransitive: She runs every morning. |
Change | Transitive: They changed the schedule. Intransitive: His mood changes often. |
Break | Transitive: She broke the glass. Intransitive: Glass breaks easily. |
Start | Transitive: He started the car. Intransitive: The race starts at noon. |