Transitive Verbs Explained

• A verb describes an action and can be transitive, intransitive, linking, or helping.

Transitive Verbs

• A transitive verb accepts a direct object, which is a noun that receives the verb's action.
• Transitive verbs cannot stand alone as a sentence's predicate.
• They connect the subject, the action, and the direct object.
• The structure is subject + transitive verb + direct object.
• Examples of transitive verbs: throw, eat, write, drive.
• To identify a transitive verb, find the subject, the action (verb), and then determine if there's a direct object answering "what?" or "whom?"
• Example 1: "Neil caught the ball." Neil (subject) + caught (transitive verb) + the ball (direct object).
• Example 2: "Aaliyah read a book." Aaliyah (subject) + read (transitive verb) + a book (direct object).
• Example 3: "When the sun set, Stephanie rode her horse to the store." Stephanie (subject) + rode (transitive verb) + her horse (direct object).
• Identifying a direct object confirms that the verb is transitive, even in complex sentences.

Transitive Verbs vs Intransitive Verbs

• Intransitive verbs can stand alone as the predicate of a sentence, and do not take a direct object.
• Intransitive verbs are often paired with adverbs or adverbial phrases that describe when, where, or how the action occurs.
• The subject completes the action without needing an object.
• Examples of intransitive verbs: stands, sleeps, stops.
• Example 1: "Julia stands." or "Despite it all, Julia stands." Stands is intransitive because Julia performs the action without acting upon an object.
• Example 2: "Julio sleeps at night." or "Amidst the stary light, Julio slept soundly." Sleeps is intransitive because Julio performs the action without acting upon an object.
• Example 3: "Adorlee stopped." or "After a long hike and numerous challenges, Adorlee stopped." Stopped is intransitive because Adorlee performs the action without acting upon an object.
• Verbs commonly used intransitively, such as "stop," can function as transitive verbs if they take a direct object.
• Example: "Adorlee stopped the car." Here, "stopped" is transitive because "car" is the direct object.
• Linking verbs are often intransitive, connecting a subject to additional context.
• Example: "Maria feels excited for tomorrow." "Feels" is a linking verb and intransitive, as "excited" is not a direct object.
• Other linking verbs: look, sound, become.
• Whether a verb is transitive or intransitive depends on its function in the sentence, specifically if it has a direct object.

Explore transitive verbs: action words needing direct objects. Learn how they connect subjects, actions, and receivers. Discover how to identify them by finding the subject, verb, and direct object answering 'what?' or 'whom?'